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

Town of Clarence’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Work in Clarence that must conform to the Uniform Code or Energy Code, including residential construction.

  • The listed exemptions in § 67-4B apply.
  • No work requiring a permit may begin until the Town issues it.
  • The application fee is due at submission.

  permit commencement period: <= 6 months after issuance (Permit becomes invalid unless authorized work is commenced.) · permit expiration: 12 months after issuance (May be renewed upon application, fee payment, and Code Enforcement Officer approval.)

  “No person shall commence any work for which a building permit is required without first having obtained a building permit from the Town of Clarence.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Buildings, structures, and premises in the Town of Clarence.

  • Except as otherwise provided in the Uniform Code, Energy Code, other state law, or Chapter 67.

  “This chapter provides for the administration and enforcement of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code [...] in this Town of Clarence.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted construction in Clarence where the listed construction element is applicable.

  • Work must remain accessible and exposed until inspected and accepted.
  • The permit holder must notify the Code Enforcement Officer when an element is ready for inspection.
  • Remote inspection may replace an in-person inspection only at the authorized official's discretion and if adequate.

  “Elements of work to be inspected. The following elements of the construction process shall be inspected, where applicable:”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Any work subject to a building permit and structures converted to another use or occupancy classification in Clarence.

  • A certificate of occupancy or certificate of compliance is required.
  • Use or occupancy after a building permit is granted only through issuance of the certificate.

  “Permission to use or occupy a building or structure [...] shall be granted only by issuance of a certificate of occupancy or certificate of compliance.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside the Town of Clarence, New York.

  • Uses and development are subject to Chapter 229 and applicable district controls.

  “Article III Zoning Districts § 229-24 District enumerated. § 229-25 Schedule I, Use Controls, and Schedule II, Lot Dimensions and Area Requirements.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision of land inside Clarence.

  • Subject to Chapter 193.

  “Subdivisions within the Town of Clarence shall be designed and submitted for approval in compliance with the standards and procedures set forth herein.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Town building-permit applications, amendments, and renewals.

  • Fee amount is specified in or determined under § 67-18.
  • The fee must be paid at application submission.

  “must be paid at the time of submission of an application for a building permit”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building-permit applications in Clarence.

  • Application must be in writing on an acceptable form.
  • It must be signed by the owner or the owner's authorized agent.
  • Supporting information and documents specified by § 67-4D are required.

  “Applications for a building permit shall be made in writing on a form provided by or otherwise acceptable to the Code Enforcement Officer.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential work in Clarence.
• Living in an RV — Long-term RV occupancy on private land in Clarence.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land in Clarence.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy in Clarence.
• Manufactured homes — Manufactured-home occupancy in Clarence.

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 Clarence 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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