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

Village of McGraw’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Erection, construction, alteration, enlargement, improvement, conversion, or change in occupancy of a building or structure inside McGraw village limits.

  • Ordinary repairs that are not structural in nature are excepted.
  • A separate permit is required for each building or structure.
  • A residential dwelling of 3,500 square feet or more, a commercial business of 1,500 square feet or more, and all industrial buildings require submitted plans including professional-engineer approval before permit issuance.
  • Permit lasts six months; for good cause the inspector may allow at most two extensions of no more than three months each.

  residential dwelling plan-review threshold: >= 3500 square feet (Professional engineer approval required before building-permit issuance.) · commercial business plan-review threshold: >= 1500 square feet (Professional engineer approval required before building-permit issuance.) · initial permit duration: 6 months (Maximum two extensions, each not exceeding three months, for good cause.)

  “No person, firm or corporation shall commence the erection, construction, alteration, enlargement, improvement, conversion or change in the nature of the occupancy of any building or structure or cause the same to be done without first obtaining a separate building permit from the inspector for each such building or structure, except that no building permit shall be required for the performance of ordinary repairs which are not structural in nature.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Building work inside McGraw village limits.

  • The Village enforces the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code.

  “This chapter shall provide the basic method for administration and enforcement of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code in the Village of McGraw and shall establish powers, duties and responsibilities therewith.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Buildings, structures, and sites for which a building-permit application has been filed inside McGraw village limits.

  • The inspector examines before a certificate of occupancy is issued.
  • The inspector may inspect during and at completion of permitted work.
  • Existing buildings not subject to that inspection are subject to periodic Uniform Code inspections, which may occur at any reasonable time.

  “Before issuing a certificate of occupancy, the inspector shall examine or cause to be examined all buildings, structures and sites for which an application has been filed for a building permit to construct, alter, enlarge, repair or change the use or nature of occupancy, and he may conduct such inspections as he deems appropriate from time to time during and upon completion of the work for which a building permit has been issued.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Buildings erected, enlarged, extended, altered, or subject to permit-required work inside McGraw village limits.

  • A newly erected building may not be used or occupied until the inspector issues a certificate of occupancy.
  • A building with permit-required work may not be occupied or used more than 30 days after completion without a certificate.
  • The owner or agent must apply; before issuance, the specified supervisory affidavit must be filed.
  • Temporary certificates may be issued for safely occupiable portions for up to three months, with at most two extensions of no more than three months each for good cause.

  post-completion occupancy period without certificate: <= 30 days (Applies to a building enlarged, extended, altered, or subject to work requiring a building permit.)

  “No building hereafter erected shall be used or occupied in whole or in part until a certificate of occupancy shall have been issued by the inspector.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside McGraw village limits.

  • The Code Enforcement Officer administers and enforces the zoning chapter.

  “This chapter shall be enforced and administered by the Code Enforcement Officer, who shall be appointed by the Village Board of Trustees.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Building and zoning permits inside McGraw village limits.

  • The building fee schedule is established by resolution, may be amended from time to time, and is kept by the Village Clerk as part of the application packet.
  • Zoning applications carry a nonrefundable fee under a Village Board schedule available from the Village Clerk.
  • Applicants reimburse reasonable professional-review costs when applicable.

  “A fee schedule shall be established by resolution and amended from time to time. A copy of such fee schedule will be kept on file with the Village Clerk and a copy will be part of the application packet.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building and zoning permit applications inside McGraw village limits.

  • A building application must be made to the inspector on the prescribed form and contain the specified property, proposed-use, valuation, applicant, owner, work-description, and other requested compliance information.
  • A building application must be made by the owner or the owner’s authorized agent, architect, engineer, or builder; non-owner applications require the owner affidavit described in the code.
  • A zoning application is made at the Village office on official forms signed by the applicant and may be made by the owner or authorized agent.
  • Zoning applications require three copies of the specified plot plan, subject to the Code Enforcement Officer’s authority to waive that requirement, intended-use information, and County Health Department approval when required.

  “Applications for zoning permits shall be made at the Village office upon official forms furnished for such purpose, which shall be signed by the applicant. Applications for permits may be made by the owner or his/her authorized agent.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential work inside McGraw village limits.
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside McGraw village limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family residences inside McGraw village limits.
• Minimum lot size — Residential lots inside McGraw village limits.
• Setbacks — Residential structures inside McGraw village limits.

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 Village of McGraw 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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