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

Town of Concord’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Work inside Concord that must conform to the Uniform Code or Energy Code, including construction, enlargement, alteration, improvement, removal, relocation, demolition, and specified solid-fuel installations.

  • Exemptions in § 72-4B apply, including certain detached structures no larger than 144 square feet and listed minor work.
  • A permit must be obtained from the Town before commencement.

  detached-structure exemption maximum gross floor area: <= 144 square feet (One-story detached tool/storage sheds, playhouses, or similar uses associated with specified dwellings.)

  “Except as otherwise provided in Subsection B of this section, a building permit shall be required for any work which must conform to the Uniform Code and/or the Energy Code, including, but not limited to, the construction, enlargement, alteration, improvement, removal, relocation, or demolition of any building or structure or any portion thereof, and the installation of a solid-fuel-burning heating appliance, chimney, or flue in any dwelling unit.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted construction inside Concord.

  • Work must remain accessible and exposed until inspected and accepted.
  • A remote inspection may replace an in-person inspection only at the Code Enforcement Officer's or authorized inspector's discretion and when sufficient.

  “Work shall remain accessible and exposed until inspected and accepted by the Code Enforcement Officer or by an inspector authorized by the Code Enforcement Officer. The permit holder shall notify the Code Enforcement Officer when any element of work described in Subsection B of this section is ready for inspection.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Building-code permits and related Town code-enforcement actions inside Concord.

  • Fees are collected as set by the Town Board; Chapter 72 does not state a dollar amount in the extracted provision.

  “To collect fees as set by the Town Board of this Town of Concord;”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permits inside Concord.

  • Code Enforcement Officer receives, reviews, and approves or disapproves applications and submitted documents.
  • Building permit must precede covered work.

  “To receive, review, and approve or disapprove applications for building permits, certificates of occupancy, certificates of compliance, temporary certificates of occupancy, and operating permits, and the plans, specifications, and construction documents submitted with such applications;”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Concord.
• Lot coverage — Land inside Concord.
• Living in an RV — RV occupancy on private land inside Concord.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Concord.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Concord.

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 Concord 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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