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

Village of Fort Edward’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Erection, construction, alteration, improvement, removal or demolition of buildings inside Fort Edward village

  • Agricultural buildings or structures are excepted.
  • Exempt: one-story detached sheds/playhouses not over 144 sq ft; playground equipment; above-ground pools under 24 inches deep; fences not enclosing a pool; retaining walls (unless surcharge); window awnings; partitions under 5'9"; finish work; portable listed equipment; like-for-like equipment replacement; repairs not involving structure, egress, building systems or fire protection.
  • Exemption does not authorize work violating the uniform code.

  exempt shed gross floor area: <= 144 sq ft (one-story detached accessory to one- or two-family dwellings)

  “without having applied for and obtained a building permit from the code enforcement official.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Construction inside Fort Edward village; village administers and enforces the NY Uniform Code

  • Enforced by the village code enforcement official designated by the Board of Trustees.

  “administer and enforce all of the provisions of this chapter and the uniform code applicable to the plans, specifications or permits for the construction, alteration and repair of buildings and structures”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Fort Edward village

  • A land use permit is required for new buildings of 100 sq ft or more of ground coverage, enlargements, changes of use, signs over 3 sq ft, and any excavating, grading, fill or construction (§350-1-3).

  “the title of this chapter is the "zoning law of the village of fort edward," and it shall include the text and the official village of fort edward zoning map.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Land inside Fort Edward village

  • Districts: Education, R-1 Residential, R-2 Residential, C-1 Commercial, Historic Commercial, Marina Commercial, Depot, Parkland Recreation, Downtown Industrial, Industrial.
  • Uses and dimensions are in Table 1 and Table 2, attachments to the chapter; the zoning map is also an attachment.

  “for the purpose of this chapter, the village of fort edward is hereby divided into the following land use districts:”

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Agricultural buildings or structures inside Fort Edward village (building permit)

  • Exception applies only to the building permit requirement of §127-9; the NY Uniform Code and zoning land use permit may still apply.

  “alteration, improvement, removal or demolition of any building or structure, except agricultural buildings or structures, or the installation of heating equipment”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Building permit application fees inside Fort Edward village

  • Dollar amounts are not in the code; check the Board of Trustees fee resolution.

  “building permit application fees applicable under this chapter shall be adopted and amended from time to time by resolution of the board of trustees of the village.”

• Permit processPublished

  Building permit applications inside Fort Edward village

  • Application must be signed by owner or authorized agent and include description of work, tax map number, occupancy classification and at least two sets of construction documents; a site plan showing wells/septic and lot-line distances where applicable.

  “applications for building permits shall be delivered in person to the village clerk's office.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside Fort Edward village
• Inspections — Inspections inside Fort Edward village
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy inside Fort Edward village
• Minimum dwelling size — R-1 and R-2 residential districts
• Minimum lot size — R-1 and R-2 residential districts

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.