Bolthole Index

Herkimer County, New York

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

The Town of Webb in Herkimer County, New York requires a building permit from its Code Enforcement Officer for work covered by the state Uniform Code1. Webb adopted its own zoning, Chapter 480, in 20262. Septic permits are also issued through the town's Code Enforcement Office3, and an RV may be used as a residence for no more than 30 days in a calendar year4.

At a glance

Building permit
Required from the town Code Enforcement Officer, with listed exemptions1
Zoning
Town zoning, Chapter 480, adopted 20262
Septic permit
Issued through the town Code Enforcement Office3
RV living
Limited to 30 days per calendar year outside RV parks4
Manufactured homes
Allowed with a building and use permit, as a single-family residence only5
Subdivision
Regulated; Planning Board review6
Floodplain
Development permit required in mapped flood hazard areas7
Property tax
Herkimer County effective rate about 2.3%8

Who to call

Building permits

Town of Webb Zoning & Codes Enforcement

Building permits, zoning enforcement, septic system permits, sign permits and short-term rental permits inside the Town of Webb

(315) 369-3001

183 Park Ave., Old Forge, NY

Septic permits

New York State Department of Health, Environmental Unit (Herkimer district office)

State health office listed by Herkimer County Public Health for environmental health and water quality questions

315-866-6879

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 24, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Does the Town of Webb have zoning, and what does it mean for RVs and manufactured homes?

Yes. The Town of Webb has its own zoning law, Chapter 480 of the town code, adopted by the Town Board in 20262. The code includes zoning maps and a summary schedule of permitted uses and standards, so the rules for your lot depend on its district9. Herkimer County itself does not zone: New York gives zoning power to cities, towns and villages, not counties10.

Inside Webb, an RV outside a recreational vehicle park may not be occupied, placed or used as a residence for more than 30 days in a calendar year4. Only the lot owner may occupy it, utility connections need Code Enforcement Officer approval by permit, and district yard setbacks apply4. A manufactured home needs a building and use permit and may be used only as a single-family residence5. We could not confirm a specific rule for tiny homes or a minimum dwelling size; ask the Code Enforcement Office3.

Do you need a building permit in the Town of Webb, and who issues it?

Yes. Webb requires a building permit for any work that must conform to the Uniform Code or Energy Code, including construction, enlargement, alteration, removal or demolition of a building, and installing a wood stove or chimney1. The permit comes from the town's Code Enforcement Officer before work begins1. Listed exemptions exist, such as certain small detached structures and fences, but the town's office says all sheds of any size need a permit because local code is stricter than the state rule3.

Work must stay exposed until the Code Enforcement Officer inspects it11, and a certificate of occupancy is required for permitted work12. Zoning building and use permits carry a fee set by the Town Board; we found no dollar amount in the code13. Call the Zoning & Codes Enforcement office at (315) 369-30013.

How do septic permits work in the Town of Webb?

The Town of Webb Code Enforcement Office says it issues septic system permits and their required inspections, and the town publishes a septic permit form3. New York's rules for new systems also involve health department review: for alternative systems, the state or county health department official having jurisdiction must approve plans before construction14. Herkimer County Public Health points residents to the state Department of Health Environmental Unit for environmental health questions15.

USDA rates only a small share of soils in Herkimer County as not limited for a conventional drain field16, so expect a site evaluation and possibly an engineered system. We could not confirm Webb's full septic inspection rules or any public sewer connection requirement; ask the Code Enforcement Office before you buy.

Building a home in the Town of Webb: the steps, in order

  1. Ask the Code Enforcement Office whether your lot is buildable and which zoning district it sits in3.
  2. Check the Adirondack Park Agency: the town's forms page lists an APA jurisdictional inquiry form3.
  3. If you are dividing land, apply through the town's subdivision process; final plat approval involves the Planning Board6.
  4. Apply for the building permit and, separately, the septic permit3.
  5. Check flood hazard mapping; development in a special flood hazard area needs a floodplain development permit7.
  6. Keep work exposed for inspection, then obtain the certificate of occupancy1112.

What stays with Herkimer County and the state, and what to check before you buy

Septic approvals involve the state health department as well as the town15. A driveway onto a state highway needs a permit from the New York State Department of Transportation17; we could not confirm Webb's own driveway rules. Floodplain permits in mapped areas have an application fee set by the Town Board between $35 and $200, plus review costs7.

For land outside the town, see the Herkimer County page. County figures: the effective property tax rate is about 2.3%8 and the median tax bill is about $3,067 a year18.

Watch-outs

  • Webb adopted new zoning in 2026, so confirm district rules, setbacks and permitted uses with the Code Enforcement Office before relying on older summaries2.
  • Short-term rentals are regulated separately by the town; we could not confirm the details, so ask the Code Enforcement Office3.
  • Private wells, owner-builder rules and driveway approvals inside Webb were not confirmed; call the Zoning & Codes Enforcement office3.

Sources

  1. Town of Webb Code, Chapter 212, Construction Codes, Uniform (Town of Webb), quoted and re-checked
  2. Town of Webb Code, Chapter 480, Zoning (Town of Webb), quoted and re-checked
  3. Town of Webb Zoning & Codes Enforcement (townofwebbny.gov)
  4. Town of Webb Code § 480-30, Recreational vehicles not in recreational vehicle parks (Town of Webb), quoted and re-checked
  5. Town of Webb Code § 480-27, Manufactured homes (Town of Webb), quoted and re-checked
  6. Town of Webb Code, Chapter 410, Subdivision of Land (Town of Webb), quoted and re-checked
  7. Town of Webb Code, Chapter 257, Flood Damage Prevention (Town of Webb), quoted and re-checked
  8. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  9. Town of Webb Code, Chapter 480, Zoning (Town of Webb), quoted and re-checked
  10. documents.dps.ny.gov (New York statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. Town of Webb Code, Chapter 212, Construction Codes, Uniform (Town of Webb), quoted and re-checked
  12. Town of Webb Code, Chapter 212, Construction Codes, Uniform (Town of Webb), quoted and re-checked
  13. Town of Webb Code § 480-39, Building and use permits (Town of Webb), quoted and re-checked
  14. NYS Register March 18, 2015 Rule Making Activities — Standards for Individual Onsite Water Supply and Individual Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (New York statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  15. New York State Department of Health, Environmental Unit (Herkimer district office) (herkimercountyny.gov)
  16. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  17. Residential Driveway Permits (New York statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 24, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Town of Webb

Town of Webb’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Work inside Webb that must conform to the Uniform Code or Energy Code.

    • The listed exemptions in § 212-4B apply, including certain small detached structures, certain playground equipment, limited above-ground pools, certain fences, specified retaining walls, specified finish work, certain equipment replacements, and nonstructural repairs.
    • A permit must be obtained from the Code Enforcement Officer before work begins.
    “Building permits required. 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 Webb where an enumerated inspection element is applicable.

    • Work must remain accessible and exposed until inspected and accepted.
    • The permit holder must notify the Code Enforcement Officer when an enumerated element is ready for inspection.
    “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.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Work subject to a Webb building permit and buildings or portions converted between use or occupancy classifications.

    • The Code Enforcement Officer or authorized inspector must inspect before issuance.
    • A temporary certificate may allow temporary occupancy only if the statutory safety conditions are met, for a period not exceeding six months.
    “Certificates of occupancy required. A certificate of occupancy shall be required for any work which is the subject of a building permit and for all structures, buildings, or portions thereof which are converted from one use or occupancy classification or subclassification to another.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside the Town of Webb, New York.

    • Chapter 480 was adopted by the Town Board on 2026-02-10.
    “[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Webb 2-10-2026 by L.L. No. 3-2026. Amendments noted where applicable.]”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning districts inside Webb.

    • Chapter 480 includes an attachment identified as the zoning maps and an attachment identified as the summary schedule of permitted uses and standards.
    “ATTACHMENTS Attachment 1 - Attachment 1 - Summary Schedule of Permitted Uses and Standards Applicable Thereto Attachment 2 - Attachment 2 - Zoning Maps”
  • Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

    Recreational vehicles outside recreational-vehicle parks inside Webb.

    • Residential occupation, placement, or use is limited to 30 days in a calendar year.
    • The vehicle may be occupied only by the owner of the lot or property; the owner may not rent or lease the lot or property for another's RV.
    • Sewer, water, and electrical connections require Code Enforcement Officer approval by permit; portable generators are only for emergency power.
    • Required zoning-district yard setbacks apply.
    • Permit fees are fixed by the Town Board.

    maximum residential RV occupancy: <= 30 days per calendar year (Applies to recreational vehicles not in recreational vehicle parks.)

    “No recreational vehicle shall be occupied, placed or used as a residence for more than a 30-day period in any calendar year.”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Manufactured homes located and installed inside Webb.

    • A building and use permit is required.
    • All manufactured homes must meet stated HUD construction and safety standards; certain evidence must be supplied by the applicant.
    • A manufactured home may be used only as a single-family residence and not as a storage building.
    • Specified temporary construction-project homes are excepted if removed within 30 days after completion and enforcement-officer permission is obtained before entry into Webb.
    “No manufactured home may be used for any purpose other than for a single-family residence. A manufactured home shall not be used as a storage building.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Land subdivisions inside Webb.

    • The application must be in writing to the enforcement officer using Town forms and must include the required plan, plat, drawings, and related information.
    • Final plat approval is subject to Planning Board review and other stated approvals and conditions.
    “A formal application to the Planning Board for subdivision approval shall be submitted in writing to the enforcement officer using application forms provided by the Town and shall be accompanied by applicable plan, plat and other drawings and related information required by § 410-6 of this chapter.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Construction or other development in areas of special flood hazard inside Webb.

    • The area must be an area of special flood hazard shown on the Flood Insurance Rate Map enumerated in § 257-3B.
    • A valid floodplain development permit is required before development.
    • The local administrator may require plans and other application materials; the fee is set by Town Board resolution between $35 and $200, plus review, inspection, and approval costs, with a possible deposit of no more than $500.

    floodplain development permit application fee: 35-200 USD (Established from time to time by Town Board resolution; additional Town costs and a deposit of no more than $500 may apply.)

    “It shall be unlawful to undertake any development in an area of special flood hazard, as shown on the Flood Insurance Rate Map enumerated in § 257-3B, without a valid floodplain development permit.”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Zoning building and use permits inside Webb.

    • The fee is stipulated by the Town Board; no current dollar amount was established by the reviewed provision.
    • The zoning permit is issued with the approved plot plan after fee payment.
    “One copy of the layout or plot plan accompanying the application shall be returned to the applicant when approved by the enforcement officer, together with the permit, upon the payment of such fee as may be stipulated by the Town Board.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential work inside Webb.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Principal dwellings inside Webb.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Webb.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Webb.
  • Who permits septic — On-site wastewater systems inside Webb.
8 more unanswered
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Short-term rentals

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.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Town of Webb publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Herkimer County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Herkimer County: county rules, score and offices