Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Village of Trumansburg, New York

Village of Trumansburg’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Work inside Trumansburg village that must conform to the Uniform Code or Energy Code

  • Subdivision (b) of section 4 lists exemptions (not reviewed in detail)
  • Permit is issued by the village

  “no person shall commence any work for which a building permit is required without first having obtained a building permit from the village.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Buildings and work under a village building permit inside Trumansburg village

  • Inspection before issuance of certificate of occupancy or compliance

  “the code enforcement officer or an inspector authorized by the code enforcement officer shall inspect the building, structure, or work prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy or certificate of compliance.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Work under a building permit and change of use/occupancy inside Trumansburg village

  • Temporary certificate of occupancy up to six months may be issued
  • Fee per section 18 of the local law

  temporary CO maximum duration: <= 6 months

  “a certificate of occupancy or certificate of compliance shall be required for any work which is the subject of a building permit”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Trumansburg village limits (Tompkins County, NY)

  • Zoning officer issues permits; special uses go to the zoning board of appeals

  “the current village zoning ordinance and zoning map are available through the links below.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Residential zoning district, inside Trumansburg village

  • Lot area depends on number of dwelling units: one to two units 7,500 sq ft; three to four units 9,500 sq ft; five to twenty units 37,500 sq ft for 5 units plus 5,000 sq ft per additional unit; non-residential 7,500 sq ft
  • Chart is flattened in the source; column mapping inferred from column order
  • Minimum lot frontage 50 ft (100 ft for five to twenty units)

  minimum lot area, one to two dwelling units: >= 7500 sq ft · minimum lot area, three to four dwelling units: >= 9500 sq ft

  “one to two dwelling units three to four dwelling units five to twenty dwelling units non-residential use 7,500 sq.ft. 9,500 sq.ft.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Residential zoning district, inside Trumansburg village

  • Front setbacks governed by sections 303 and 304
  • Side 15 ft principal / 5 ft accessory; rear 30 ft principal / 5 ft accessory
  • Irregular and flag lots have separate rules (sections 705, 706)

  side yard, principal building: >= 15 ft · rear yard, principal building: >= 30 ft

  “minimum side yard setback - principal building - accessory building 15 ft. 5 ft. 15 ft. 5 ft. 15 ft. 5 ft. 15 ft. 5 ft. minimum rear yard setback - principal building - accessory building 30 ft. 5 ft.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Residential zoning district, inside Trumansburg village

  • Expressed as maximum impervious surface

  maximum impervious surface: <= 60 percent

  “2.5 stories & 35 ft. 20 ft. 60 % 60 % 60 % 60 % minimum lot area maximum impervious surface”

• Building heightSpecified

  Residential zoning district, inside Trumansburg village

  • Principal building 2.5 stories and 35 ft; accessory building 20 ft

  maximum height, principal building: <= 35 ft (also 2.5 stories) · maximum height, accessory building: <= 20 ft

  “maximum height - principal building - accessory building 2.5 stories & 35 ft. 20 ft. 2.5 stories & 35 ft. 20 ft.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Village of Trumansburg or Tompkins County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside Trumansburg village
• Minimum dwelling size — Inside Trumansburg village
• Living in an RV — RV occupancy inside Trumansburg village
• Camping on your land — Inside Trumansburg village
• Tiny homes — Inside Trumansburg village

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.