Bolthole Index

Nassau County, New York

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in the Village of Munsey Park, New York

Inside the Village of Munsey Park, Nassau County, New York, a building permit is required for any work that must conform to the state Uniform Code or Energy Code, and the village's code enforcement officer issues it1. The village adopts its own zoning, with Residence A, Residence B and Business districts2. Septic permits sit with the county health department, not the village3.

At a glance

Building permit
Required for work that must conform to the Uniform Code or Energy Code; issued by the village code enforcement officer1
Zoning
Village zoning: Residence A, Residence B and Business districts2
Minimum lot
8,000 sq ft in Residence A; 6,000 sq ft in Residence B45
Minimum dwelling size
Over 2,350 sq ft in Residence A; over 1,750 sq ft in Residence B67
Maximum height
30 feet or 2 1/2 stories, whichever is less, in both residence districts89
Septic
Nassau County Department of Health3
Certificate of occupancy
Required for new construction under a building permit10

Who to call

Septic permits

Nassau County Department of Health, Bureau of Environmental Engineering

On-site sewage disposal plan approvals and discharge permits, and sewer-connection and septic-abandonment requirements where public sewer is available

516-227-9692

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 Village of Munsey Park means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in Munsey Park, NY?

Yes. The Village of Munsey Park requires a building permit for any work that must conform to the state Uniform Code or the Energy Code1. The village adopted the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code and enforces the state energy code itself11.

A permit exemption does not authorize work that violates the code or village zoning1. Applications are made in writing, on a form provided by or acceptable to the code enforcement officer, and are signed by the owner or an authorized agent12.

The fee schedule is set by resolution of the village board of trustees13. We could not confirm the dollar amounts, so ask the village for the current schedule.

Does Munsey Park have zoning, and what does it require?

Munsey Park has its own zoning. The village is divided into Residence A, Residence B and Business districts, shown on the official village map214. A property split by a district boundary follows the more stringent district unless 75% or more of it lies in one district14.

In Residence A, a lot must be at least 8,000 square feet with 80 feet of street frontage4. In Residence B, the minimum is 6,000 square feet with 60 feet of frontage5. A new dwelling must have more than 2,350 square feet of livable floor area in Residence A6 and more than 1,750 square feet in Residence B7.

Building area, including accessory buildings and structures, may not exceed 25% of the lot in either residence district1516.

What are the setback and height limits in Munsey Park?

In Residence A, the front yard must be at least 28 feet from the street line17. Each side yard must be at least 10 feet, with both side yards together at least 22 feet, and the rear yard at least 25 feet17.

In Residence B, the front yard must be at least 26 feet18. Each side yard must be at least 9 feet, with both together at least 19 feet, and the rear yard at least 20 feet18.

In both districts, no building may sit closer to the street than the average front setbacks of the abutting properties on the same street1718. Height is capped at 30 feet to the roof peak or 2 1/2 stories, whichever is less89. Only one driveway is allowed per lot19.

How do septic permits work in Munsey Park?

We could not confirm village-specific septic rules. Nassau County's own health department is the septic authority for the county3, and the Nassau County Department of Health, Bureau of Environmental Engineering reviews on-site sewage disposal plans and issues the discharge permits20.

The county also states that residential and commercial facilities in areas served by public sewers must connect to the sewer20. Whether a particular Munsey Park address is on public sewer is something we could not confirm; ask the Bureau of Environmental Engineering at 516-227-9692 before planning any septic or cesspool work20. The county's soil data rates only about 11.5% of its soils as not limited for a conventional drain field21.

Can you put an RV, tiny home or second dwelling on a Munsey Park lot?

We could not confirm village rules on RV occupancy, tiny homes, manufactured homes or accessory dwellings, so ask the village code enforcement officer before buying or placing anything.

The minimum floor areas already narrow the answer for tiny homes: a new dwelling in Residence A needs more than 2,350 square feet of livable floor area6, and one in Residence B needs more than 1,750 square feet7. Those figures apply to dwellings erected in the residence districts, so a small dwelling under either threshold would not meet them.

Building a home in Munsey Park: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm your lot's district (Residence A, Residence B or Business) on the official village map14.
  2. Check lot area, frontage, setbacks, lot coverage and height for that district2.
  3. File a written building permit application with the code enforcement officer, signed by the owner or an authorized agent12.
  4. Keep work accessible and exposed until the code enforcement officer or an authorized inspector inspects and accepts it22.
  5. If the property is in a flood hazard area, a separate permit from the building inspector is needed before any man-made change to the land23.
  6. Obtain a certificate of occupancy; it is required for all new construction that is the subject of a building permit10.

What stays with Nassau County, and what to check before you buy

Septic and sewer questions go to the Nassau County Department of Health3. Rules for land outside the village, in unincorporated areas or other municipalities, are on the Nassau County page and do not apply inside Munsey Park.

County-level figures give context: the effective property tax rate in Nassau County is 1.5%24, and the median property tax bill is about $10,000 a year25. The typical home value is about $860,00026. Flood-hazard permits are handled by the village building inspector23.

Watch-outs

  • Munsey Park's minimum dwelling sizes are set by district, so a lot's district on the village map decides whether a small home is allowed at all67.
  • Exemptions from a building permit are listed in the village code, and an exempt project still has to meet the code and village zoning1.
  • We could not confirm village rules for septic permits, private wells, RVs, accessory dwellings or short-term rentals; ask the village code enforcement officer and the Nassau County Department of Health (516-227-9692) before you buy20.

Sources

  1. Village of Munsey Park Code, Ch. 92 Construction Codes, Uniform (Village of Munsey Park), quoted and re-checked
  2. Village of Munsey Park Code, Ch. 200 Zoning, Art. II Districts (Village of Munsey Park), quoted and re-checked
  3. Nassau County - On-Site Sewage Disposal System and SPDES Permit (2026 county census)
  4. Village of Munsey Park Code, Ch. 200 Zoning, Art. III Residence A District (Village of Munsey Park), quoted and re-checked
  5. Village of Munsey Park Code, Ch. 200 Zoning, Art. IV Residence B District (Village of Munsey Park), quoted and re-checked
  6. Village of Munsey Park Code, Ch. 200 Zoning, Art. III Residence A District (Village of Munsey Park), quoted and re-checked
  7. Village of Munsey Park Code, Ch. 200 Zoning, Art. IV Residence B District (Village of Munsey Park), quoted and re-checked
  8. Village of Munsey Park Code, Ch. 200 Zoning, Art. III Residence A District (Village of Munsey Park), quoted and re-checked
  9. Village of Munsey Park Code, Ch. 200 Zoning, Art. IV Residence B District (Village of Munsey Park), quoted and re-checked
  10. Village of Munsey Park Code, Ch. 92 Construction Codes, Uniform (Village of Munsey Park), quoted and re-checked
  11. Village of Munsey Park Code, Ch. 92 Construction Codes, Uniform (Village of Munsey Park), quoted and re-checked
  12. Village of Munsey Park Code, Ch. 92 Construction Codes, Uniform (Village of Munsey Park), quoted and re-checked
  13. Village of Munsey Park Code, Ch. 92 Construction Codes, Uniform (Village of Munsey Park), quoted and re-checked
  14. Village of Munsey Park Code, Ch. 200 Zoning, Art. II Districts (Village of Munsey Park), quoted and re-checked
  15. Village of Munsey Park Code, Ch. 200 Zoning, Art. III Residence A District (Village of Munsey Park), quoted and re-checked
  16. Village of Munsey Park Code, Ch. 200 Zoning, Art. IV Residence B District (Village of Munsey Park), quoted and re-checked
  17. Village of Munsey Park Code, Ch. 200 Zoning, Art. III Residence A District (Village of Munsey Park), quoted and re-checked
  18. Village of Munsey Park Code, Ch. 200 Zoning, Art. IV Residence B District (Village of Munsey Park), quoted and re-checked
  19. Village of Munsey Park Code, Ch. 200 Zoning, Art. III Residence A District (Village of Munsey Park), quoted and re-checked
  20. Nassau County Department of Health, Bureau of Environmental Engineering (nassaucountyny.gov)
  21. 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
  22. Village of Munsey Park Code, Ch. 92 Construction Codes, Uniform (Village of Munsey Park), quoted and re-checked
  23. Village of Munsey Park Code, Ch. 99 Flood Damage Prevention (Village of Munsey Park), quoted and re-checked
  24. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  25. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  26. Typical home value (Zillow): 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 Village of Munsey Park

Village of Munsey Park’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Work that must conform to the uniform code or energy code inside Munsey Park village

    • § 92-4(b) lists exemptions (not reproduced here)
    • Exemption from a permit does not authorize work that violates the code or village zoning
    • Permit issued by the code enforcement officer; fee paid at application
    “a building permit shall be required for any work which must conform to the uniform code and/or the energy code”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Construction inside Munsey Park village

    • Also enforces the state energy conservation construction code
    • Village code Ch. 92 prevails over Ch. 87 where they conflict
    “this chapter provides for the administration and enforcement of the new york state uniform fire prevention and building code (the uniform code) and the state energy conservation construction code (the energy code) in this village.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Permitted construction inside Munsey Park village

    • Inspected elements include work site, footing and foundation, slab preparation, framing, building systems, where applicable
    • Permit holder must notify the code enforcement officer when work 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.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    New construction under a building permit inside Munsey Park village

    • Certificate of compliance required for other permitted work
    • Also required where Chapter 87 requires it
    “a certificate of occupancy shall be required for all new construction which is the subject of a building permit or as otherwise required in chapter 87.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Munsey Park village

    • Three use districts: Residence A, Residence B, Business
    • District boundaries are shown on the official village map
    “the incorporated village of munsey park is hereby divided into use districts as follows: a. residence a district. b. residence b district. c. business district.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts inside Munsey Park village

    • Boundaries are on the official village map, not reviewed
    • Properties split by a boundary follow the more stringent district unless 75% or more lies in one district
    “the boundaries of districts are hereby established as shown on the official village map, which map is hereby declared to be a part of this chapter.”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    New dwellings in the Residence A district, Munsey Park village

    • Applies to dwellings erected after the 1989 amendment

    minimum livable floor area: > 2350 sq ft

    “no dwelling shall hereafter be erected in residence a district unless it has livable floor area greater than 2,350 square feet.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Residence A district, Munsey Park village

    • Minimum frontage on a public street of 80 feet

    minimum lot area: >= 8000 sq ft · minimum street frontage: >= 80 ft

    “no building shall be erected, altered or remodeled on a lot of an area less than 8,000 square feet.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Residence A district, Munsey Park village

    • No building closer to the street than the average front setbacks of abutting properties on the same street
    • Corner lots must meet front yard rules on both street fronts and have two side yards of at least 10 feet
    • Listed projections allowed under § 200-11

    front yard: >= 28 ft · each side yard: >= 10 ft (aggregate of both side yards at least 22 ft) · rear yard: >= 25 ft

    “there shall be a front yard of not less than 28 feet from the street line”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    Residence A district, Munsey Park village

    • Floor area ratio may not exceed .40
    • Open space ratio may not be less than two

    maximum building area including accessory buildings and structures: <= 25 % of lot area

    “the building area, including all accessory buildings and all structures, shall not exceed 25% of the lot area.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Building heightSpecified

    Residence A district, Munsey Park village

    • Houses of worship, public schools, libraries and municipal buildings are exempt
    • Measured to the roof peak from finished grade at the front line, as determined by the board of trustees

    maximum height: <= 30 ft (or 2 1/2 stories, whichever is less)

    “no building except a house of worship, public school, library or municipal building shall be raised to a height exceeding 2 1/2 stories, or 30 feet when measured to the peak of the roof from the finished grade at the front line of the building as determined by the board of trustees of the village, whichever is less.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — Residence B district, Munsey Park village
      “no building except a house of worship, public school, library or municipal building shall be raised to a height exceeding 2 1/2 stories, or 30 feet when measured to the peak of the roof from the finished grade at the front line of the building as determined by the board of trustees of the village, whichever is less.”
  • Driveway accessLimited

    Residence A district lots, Munsey Park village (same text appears in § 200-23 for Residence B)

    • Curb cut, apron and driveway widths may not exceed the dimensions in § 200-45

    driveways per lot: <= 1 count

    “only one driveway affording access to the property shall be allowed on each lot.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development in flood hazard areas inside Munsey Park village

    • Specific area boundaries and permit standards not reviewed
    • Administered by the building inspector as local administrator
    “no man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate, including but not limited to buildings or other structures, mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation, or drilling operations, shall be commenced until a separate permit has been obtained from the building inspector for each change.”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Building permit, certificate and inspection fees inside Munsey Park village

    • Schedule set and amended by board of trustees resolution
    • Additional fee for resubmitted plans set by the board of trustees
    • Dollar amounts are in Appendix A208 Fees, not opened
    “a fee schedule shall be established by resolution of the board of trustees of this village.”
  • Permit processPublished

    Building permit applications inside Munsey Park village

    • Application signed by owner or authorized agent
    • Submitted to the code enforcement officer with documentation required by § 92-4(d)
    “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 Village of Munsey Park or Nassau County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Munsey Park village
  • Living in an RV — RV occupancy inside Munsey Park village
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping inside Munsey Park village
  • Tiny homes — Tiny homes inside Munsey Park village
  • Manufactured homes — Manufactured homes inside Munsey Park village
10 more unanswered
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • 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 Village of Munsey Park publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Nassau County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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