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

Village of Sodus’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Building work inside Sodus village that must conform to the uniform code

  • Page lists new buildings, additions, structural repairs, garages, all sheds, roofing, siding, decks, fences, pools with water depth two feet or greater, heating systems, hot tubs, and demolition of all structures.

  “building permits are required for work that must conform to the uniform building codes, which includes: new residential, commercial and industrial buildings;”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Land inside Sodus village; village enforces the NY Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code

  • Adopts all subsequent amendments to the Uniform Code.

  “the village of sodus hereby adopts the uniform fire prevention and building code (henceforth referred to as the "uniform code") and all subsequent amendments thereto.”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Sodus village limits (Wayne County)

  • Zoning chapter divides the village into R-1, R-2, R-3, B-1, B-2 and I-1 districts.

  “this chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "zoning law of the village of sodus, new york."”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Sodus village zoning districts

  • Official zoning map adopted and certified by the village clerk; a map PDF is linked from the village site.

  “the village of sodus establishes and is hereby divided into the following zoning districts: r-1 r-2 r-3 b-1 b-2 i-1”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  New apartments and dwelling units inside Sodus village (all districts)

  • Or the uniform state code minimum, whichever is more restrictive.
  • No more than 25% of any apartment complex may be studio apartments.
  • A separate single-family minimum was not read.

  studio: >= 550 sq ft · one-bedroom: >= 675 sq ft · two-bedroom: >= 800 sq ft · three-bedroom: >= 950 sq ft

  “a. studio: 550 square feet. (note: no more than 25% of any apartment complex may be studio apartments.) b. one-bedroom: 675 square feet. c. two-bedroom: 800 square feet. d. three-bedroom: 950 square feet.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  R-1 Residence district (and R-2: 12,500 sq ft; R-3: 7,200 sq ft per dwelling unit) inside Sodus village

  • Area per dwelling unit.
  • Table text extracted from the PDF is run together; column order read as R-1, R-2, R-3, B-1.
  • Existing undersized lots of at least 5,000 sq ft and 50 ft width may be treated as complying (§125-36).

  R-1 area per dwelling unit: >= 1 acre · R-2 area per dwelling unit: >= 12500 sq ft · R-3 area per dwelling unit: >= 7200 sq ft

  “minimum lot size district r-1 r-2 r-3 b-1 area per dwelling unit 1 acre 12,500 sq ft 7,200 sq ft (b) 10,000 sq ft”

• Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

  R-1 Residence district inside Sodus village (R-2 30%, R-3 60%)

  • Includes all accessory buildings.

  R-1 maximum lot coverage: <= 25 percent

  “maximum lot coverage (includes all accessory building) maximum building height 25% 30% 60% 60%”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  R-1 Residence district inside Sodus village (R-2 and R-3 also 2½ stories/30 ft)

  • Certain roof structures are excepted under §125-15 (chimneys, cupolas, etc.).

  R-1 maximum stories: <= 2.5 stories · R-1 maximum height: <= 30 ft

  “2½ 2½ 2½ 3 stories feet 30 30 30 35 b-2 i-1”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Guest sleeping in a camping trailer on an improved residential lot inside Sodus village

  • Improved residential lot only; no more than two weeks in any six-month period.

  guest sleeping period: <= 2 weeks per six months

  “guests or other visitors arriving at an improved residential lot with a camping trailer may be permitted to park the trailer on the lot and use it for sleeping purposes for a period of not more than two weeks in any sixmonth period.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile/manufactured homes on lots inside Sodus village

  • Existing mobile homes may be replaced on the same lot within 90 days if the replacement meets the NY construction/installation code and the Uniform Code.
  • Temporary permit while building a residence: up to six months, one six-month renewal at Board discretion, max five occupants, village water and sewer connection if available within ten days.

  “no mobile / manufactured home, except as permitted in this section, shall be located or occupied in the village of sodus.”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  Temporary mobile/manufactured homes placed under a village permit while a dwelling is built, inside Sodus village

  • Only the temporary mobile-home permit condition was found; a general new-home water/sewer connection rule was not located.
  • Permit is temporary, six months with a possible six-month renewal at the Board of Trustees' discretion.

  “each mobile home must be connected to the village of sodus water main and the village of sodus sewer system, provided that services are available within ten (10) days.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Division of lots inside Sodus village

  • Village Code Chapter 104 (Subdivision of Land) exists but was not opened.

  “a residential lot of required or larger-than-required size, as set forth in this chapter, shall not be reduced in size for transfer of ownership if such lot so subdivided will form two or more lots which shall not be in compliance”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside Sodus village
• Inspections — Inspections inside Sodus village
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Sodus village
• Tiny homes — Tiny homes inside Sodus village
• Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwellings inside Sodus 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.