Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Fenton, New York

Town of Fenton’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  All premises regardless of use in the Town of Fenton.

  • Except as otherwise provided within Chapter 67, state law, or the Uniform Code.

  “This chapter shall provide for the administration and enforcement of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code (Uniform Code) in the Town of Fenton.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Work in the Town of Fenton for which a building permit was issued.

  • The owner, applicant, or agent must inform the inspector when work is ready and schedule the inspection.
  • Inspections are required before enclosing or covering work and at completion of each construction stage.

  “Work for which a building permit has been issued hereunder shall be inspected for approval prior to enclosing or covering any portion thereof and upon completion of each stage of construction, including, but not limited to, building location, site preparation, excavation, foundation, framing, superstructure, electrical, plumbing, and heating and air conditioning.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Buildings subject to the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code in the Town of Fenton.

  • A temporary certificate may be issued when the building or a designated portion is sufficiently complete for intended use.
  • A temporary certificate expires after six months unless an earlier date is specified; it may be renewed at the Code Enforcement Official's discretion upon payment of the specified additional fee.

  “certificate of occupancy has been issued.”

• Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

  Major recreational vehicles on private land in the Town of Fenton.

  • Temporary stay is permitted in all zoning districts without a fee, for no more than two weeks.
  • The RV may not be moved off the property and returned within two months, may not be used on a street or road, and temporary stays are limited to April through October.
  • Seasonal RV use is allowed only in the Ag-R-A District on a parcel of at least 1.5 acres, requires an initial $100 permit fee and $25 annual renewal, required setbacks shown on a drawing, County Health Department sanitary compliance, and removal from use at season end.

  temporary stay maximum: <= 2 weeks (A replacement major recreational vehicle may remain another two weeks.) · seasonal-use parcel area: >= 1.5 acres (Applies in the Ag-R-A Zoning District.) · initial seasonal-use permit fee: 100 USD · seasonal-use renewal fee: per 25 USD (Each additional year.)

  “Major recreational vehicles cannot be used for residential purposes, only as temporary habitats. The following are definitions for the use of major recreational vehicles:”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile homes inside the Town of Fenton.

  • Existing sites with a mobile home on May 1, 1978 may continue if use remains continuous and other code provisions are met.
  • A mobile home may be a temporary residence after a listed disaster only with a Board of Appeals special permit, a public-interest determination, and a period not exceeding one year, renewable once for one further year.

  temporary-disaster-residence permit duration: <= 1 year (May be renewed for one additional one-year period upon application to the Board of Appeals.)

  “Mobile homes shall not be located in the Town”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Driveways in Town of Fenton zoning districts.

  • The rule regulates driveway elevation at the street right-of-way boundary; it does not by itself establish a driveway-permit process.

  maximum driveway elevation difference at street right-of-way boundary: <= 1 foot (Measured above or below the center-line elevation of the drivestrip at a right angle to the center line of the street.)

  “No driveway elevation at the street right-of-way boundary shall be more than one foot above or below the center line elevation of the drivestrip, measured at a right angle to the center line of the street.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Fenton or Broome County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction in the Town of Fenton.
• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwellings in Town of Fenton zoning districts.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping not involving a major recreational vehicle inside the Town of Fenton.
• Tiny homes — Tiny homes used as dwellings inside the Town of Fenton.
• Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units inside the Town of Fenton.

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.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Town of Fenton means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

• Water Crystal Quest Filter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.
• Power Bluetti Solar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.
• Septic Soil percolation test kit Run your own perc test before paying an engineer — the first thing a septic office asks about.
• Water Well water test kit Bacteria, nitrates, hardness — know what the well on a parcel is really pumping.

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