Bolthole Index

Monroe County, New York

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in the Town of Irondequoit, New York

The Town of Irondequoit, New York requires a building permit for new construction, additions, decks, sheds and many other projects, issued by the town's Building and Community Development office12. The town sets its own zoning under Chapter 235 of its code3. Septic permits come from the Monroe County Department of Public Health, not the town45.

At a glance

Building permit
Required for new construction, additions, decks, sheds, fences, pools and more; issued by the town1
Zoning
Town zoning (Chapter 235) with its own district map36
Septic
Monroe County Department of Public Health issues private sewage disposal permits7
Tiny home
Only by special use permit from the town board in R-R, R-1, R-2 and R-38
Minimum lot (new lots)
9,600 sq ft in R-1 to R-3; 45,000 sq ft in R-R9
Minimum dwelling size
1,300 sq ft in R-R down to 750 sq ft in R-3 (tiny houses excepted)10
Owner-builder
Homeowners can file a workers' compensation exemption for their own residence, but permits and inspections still apply11

Who to call

Building permits

Town of Irondequoit Building and Community Development

Building permits and inspections inside the Town of Irondequoit; driveways and fill go through the Department of Public Works, and environmental protection overlay (EPOD) questions go to the planning and zoning office

(585) 336-6026

building@irondequoit.gov

1280 Titus Avenue - rochester, ny 14617

Septic permits

Monroe County Department of Public Health, Bureau of Public Health Engineering

Permits and inspections for onsite wastewater (septic) systems under the Monroe County Sanitary Code

585 753-5060

111 Westfall Road, Room 844 Rochester, NY 14620

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 14, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Does Irondequoit have zoning, and what does it mean for RVs, tiny homes, lot size and setbacks?

Yes. The Town of Irondequoit adopts its own zoning in Chapter 235 of the town code, and the districts appear on an official zoning map3. Districts include residential R-R and R-1 through R-7, business, manufacturing, open space and several environmental overlay districts6.

The numbers differ by district. In R-1, R-2 and R-3, a new lot needs at least 9,600 square feet; in R-R, rural residential, it needs at least 45,000 square feet9. Principal buildings in R-R sit at least 50 feet back from the front line12, and in R-1 to R-3 the front yard is at least 30 feet13. Buildings cannot cover more than 25% of a lot14, and a single-family dwelling tops out at 30 feet15.

A tiny house in R-R, R-1, R-2 or R-3 is allowed only with a special use permit from the town board after a public hearing8. We could not confirm the town's rule on living in an RV; ask the town's planning and zoning office before you plan on it.

Do you need a building permit in Irondequoit, and who issues it?

Yes. Irondequoit requires a building permit for additions, new construction, decks, sheds, fences, pools, demolitions and interior remodeling, and the town warns that unlisted work may also need one1. The Town of Irondequoit Building and Community Development office handles applications at 1280 Titus Avenue2. Driveways and fill go through the Department of Public Works instead1.

New York's statewide Uniform Code is the baseline for this work16. A homeowner working on their own residence can claim a workers' compensation exemption, but that does not waive the permit or inspections11. Permit fees are published by the town in separate schedules for residential, commercial, sign and other work17.

How do septic permits work inside Irondequoit?

Septic permits in Monroe County, including the Town of Irondequoit, come from the Monroe County Department of Public Health under the county Sanitary Code47. A permit is required to build, alter or repair a private sewage disposal system, and the application needs a plan and soil information7. Inspections are completed within 48 hours of request18.

Where a public sanitary sewer is available and accessible, a private system generally cannot be built19. Much of Irondequoit is sewered, so confirm with the county office whether your lot can use a septic system at all. We could not confirm whether the town adds its own septic rules; call the Bureau of Public Health Engineering at the number above5.

Building a home in Irondequoit: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the zoning district and any overlay on the town's official zoning map3.
  2. Check lot dimensions, setbacks and minimum floor area for your district910.
  3. If you are splitting land, expect subdivision review under the town's Chapter 20420.
  4. Ask the county health department whether sewer is available or a septic permit is needed19.
  5. Apply for the building permit with stamped plans and an instrument survey2.
  6. Request inspections at least one day ahead; next-day requests are due by 3 p.m.21.

What stays with Monroe County, and what to check before you buy in Irondequoit

Monroe County does not zone land; each town, village and the City of Rochester controls its own land use22. For land outside Irondequoit, see the Monroe County page.

The county keeps septic permits4 and advisory review of land use and subdivision within a quarter mile of Lake Ontario and Irondequoit Bay and in listed 100-year floodplains23. Properties in FEMA-mapped flood areas need a local floodplain development permit24. A driveway onto a state highway needs a NYSDOT permit25.

Monroe County's effective property tax rate is 2.8%26, and the median bill is about $5,495 a year27.

Watch-outs

  • The town's code lists a Building Construction and Fire Prevention chapter and a Rental Properties chapter that we could not review, so ask the Building and Community Development office about local additions to the state code2.
  • Trees on property inside an environmental protection overlay district may need a separate EPOD permit before a building permit is issued2.
  • We could not confirm town rules on RV occupancy, manufactured homes, short-term rentals or private wells; ask the town's planning and zoning office, and the county health department for wells5.

Sources

  1. Town of Irondequoit Building Permit Overview - Information and Instructions (Town of Irondequoit), quoted and re-checked
  2. Town of Irondequoit Building and Community Development (irondequoit.org)
  3. Irondequoit Code Ch. 235 Zoning, Article III Districts (Town of Irondequoit), quoted and re-checked
  4. Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems, quoted and re-checked
  5. Monroe County Department of Public Health, Bureau of Public Health Engineering (monroecounty.gov)
  6. Irondequoit Code Ch. 235 Zoning, Article III Districts (Town of Irondequoit), quoted and re-checked
  7. Monroe County Sanitary Code, Article IIA, Private Sewage Disposal Systems, quoted and re-checked
  8. Irondequoit Code Ch. 235 Zoning, Article IV residential districts (§§ 235-8 to 235-13) (Town of Irondequoit), quoted and re-checked
  9. Irondequoit Code Ch. 235 Zoning, Article IV residential districts (§§ 235-8 to 235-13) (Town of Irondequoit), quoted and re-checked
  10. Irondequoit Code Ch. 235 Zoning, Article IV residential districts (§§ 235-8 to 235-13) (Town of Irondequoit), quoted and re-checked
  11. Help for Requesting an Attestation of Exemption, quoted and re-checked
  12. Irondequoit Code Ch. 235 Zoning, Article IV residential districts (§§ 235-8 to 235-13) (Town of Irondequoit), quoted and re-checked
  13. Irondequoit Code Ch. 235 Zoning, Article IV residential districts (§§ 235-8 to 235-13) (Town of Irondequoit), quoted and re-checked
  14. Irondequoit Code Ch. 235 Zoning, Article IV residential districts (§§ 235-8 to 235-13) (Town of Irondequoit), quoted and re-checked
  15. Irondequoit Code Ch. 235 Zoning, Article IV residential districts (§§ 235-8 to 235-13) (Town of Irondequoit), quoted and re-checked
  16. Legal Memorandum LG03: NYS Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code: What Elected Officials Need to Know (New York statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. Irondequoit Building Permit Fee Schedule (Town of Irondequoit), quoted and re-checked
  18. Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems, quoted and re-checked
  19. Monroe County Sanitary Code, Article II-A, Private Sewage Disposal Systems, quoted and re-checked
  20. Town of Irondequoit, NY Code (eCode360) table of contents (Town of Irondequoit), quoted and re-checked
  21. Town of Irondequoit Building Permit Overview - Information and Instructions (Town of Irondequoit), quoted and re-checked
  22. Plan Forward: Why Plan?, quoted and re-checked
  23. Planning Development Review, quoted and re-checked
  24. Floodplain Management - NYSDEC (New York statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  25. Residential Driveway Permits (New York statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  26. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  27. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 14, 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 Irondequoit

Town of Irondequoit’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction and property improvements inside Irondequoit town

    • Town list includes additions, new construction, decks, sheds, fences, interior remodeling, pools, demolitions; driveways and fill go through Department of Public Works.
    • Other activities not listed may also require a permit; contact building department.
    “a building permit is required for a wide range of construction and property improvement activities, including, but not limited to, the following activities:”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Permitted work inside Irondequoit town

    • Inspection requests must be made at least one day in advance; next-day requests by 3 p.m.
    • Electrical inspections are done by town-approved outside agencies.
    “the permit specifies all required inspections. inspection requests can be made by calling the inspection request line.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    All land inside the Town of Irondequoit

    • Zoning is Chapter 235 of the Town code and is shown on the official zoning map on file with the town clerk.
    “the zoning districts are shown, defined and bounded on the map entitled the "official zoning map of the town of irondequoit,"”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts inside the Town of Irondequoit

    • Districts: residential R-R, R-1 to R-7; business C and WD; manufacturing M; open space OS; EPOD 1-6 overlays; LaSalle's Landing; River Harbor RH; TRR.
    “the zoning districts are shown, defined and bounded on the map entitled the "official zoning map of the town of irondequoit,"”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Residential buildings in R-R, R-1, R-2, R-3 districts inside Irondequoit town

    • Exception for an approved tiny house.
    • Measured along exterior of main foundation walls; conditioned space only; attached garages, three-season rooms, porches excluded.

    R-R minimum floor area: >= 1300 sq ft (approved tiny house) · R-1 minimum floor area: >= 1100 sq ft (approved tiny house) · R-2 minimum floor area: >= 900 sq ft (approved tiny house) · R-3 minimum floor area: >= 750 sq ft (approved tiny house)

    “no residential building, except for an approved tiny house, shall contain a floor area and a ground floor area of less than the following:”
  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    New lots in R-1, R-2, R-3 (9,600 sq ft; 80 ft wide, 120 ft deep) and R-R rural residential (45,000 sq ft; 150 ft wide, 300 ft deep) districts inside Irondequoit town

    • Applies to any new lot created.

    R-1/R-2/R-3 minimum lot area: >= 9600 sq ft · R-R minimum lot area: >= 45000 sq ft

    “any new lot created in these districts shall have the following minimum dimensions: zoning district lot width (feet) minimum lot depth (feet) minimum lot area (square feet) r-1, r-2, r-3 80 120 9,600 r-r 150 300 45,000”
  • SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Principal structures in R-1, R-2 and R-3 districts inside Irondequoit town

    • Front building line cannot vary more than five feet from adjacent properties.
    • Side setback is 10% of lot width, minimum 5 ft, capped at 15 ft.
    • Attached decks 20 ft from lot line.
    • Accessory structures follow § 235-13.

    front yard: >= 30 ft · rear yard: >= 30 ft

    “in r-1, r-2 and r-3 districts, the minimum front yard shall be at least 30 feet, and the front building line cannot vary more than five feet from the front building line of properties immediately adjacent.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    R-R, R-1, R-2 and R-3 districts inside Irondequoit town

    • Accessory structures are included in the calculation.

    maximum building coverage: <= 25 percent of lot

    “the area of the principal and accessory buildings on any lot measured horizontally shall not exceed 25% of the area of such lot.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Single-family dwellings in R-R, R-1, R-2 and R-3 districts inside Irondequoit town

    • Permitted nonresidential buildings in § 235-8a(2),(3),(4) limited to 65 feet.
    • Detached accessory structures generally limited to the lesser of principal structure height or 12 ft.

    single-family maximum height: <= 30 ft (two stories, measured from mean grade at front setback)

    “a single-family dwelling unit shall not exceed the height of a two-story residential building measured from the mean grade at the front setback, not to exceed 30 feet in height as defined in article ii.”
  • Tiny homesLimited

    Tiny houses in R-R, R-1, R-2 and R-3 districts inside Irondequoit town

    • Only with a special use permit granted by the town board after public hearing.
    • Planning board sets required setbacks during site plan review and/or the town engineer.
    “the following uses are permitted only if a special use permit is granted by the town board: (a) offices and facilities associated with a nonprofit organization; (b) child-care center and group child-care facilities; (c) "tiny house";”
  • Accessory dwellingsLimited

    Additional in-law dwelling unit in R-R, R-1, R-2 and R-3 districts inside Irondequoit town

    • Special use permit from town board required.
    • Planning board site plan approval required for an additional in-law unit.
    • Subject to height, lot coverage and lot/bulk rules of §§ 235-9, 235-10, 235-11.
    “(d) one additional in-law dwelling unit, attached or detached, subject to the bulk regulations provided in §§ 235-9, 235-10 and 235-11.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision of land inside Irondequoit town

    • Provisions of Chapter 204 were not opened; existence confirmed from the code table of contents.
    “chapter 204 subdivision of land (§ 204-1 &ndash; § 204-79) chapter 206 swimming (§ 206-1”
  • Permit feesPublished

    Building and related permits inside Irondequoit town

    • Separate residential, commercial/multi-family, telecommunications, sign and miscellaneous schedules; amounts not individually verified because the PDF text is jumbled.
    “irondequoit building permit fee schedule residental construction permit application fee”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Irondequoit town
  • Building code adopted — Building code adoption inside Irondequoit town
  • Living in an RV — RV occupancy inside Irondequoit town
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping inside Irondequoit town
  • Manufactured homes — Manufactured homes inside Irondequoit town
7 more unanswered
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • 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 Irondequoit publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Monroe County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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