Bolthole Index

Nassau County, New York

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in the Village of Westbury, New York

The Village of Westbury, in Nassau County, New York, requires a village building permit for almost any structural work, and the Superintendent of Buildings issues it1. Westbury sets its own zoning through Chapter 248 of the Village Code2. Septic and sewer questions are not decided by the village: the Nassau County Department of Health handles sewage disposal approvals3.

At a glance

Building permit
Required from the village Superintendent of Buildings1
Zoning
Village zoning, Chapter 248 of the Village Code2
Residence A minimum lot
7,500 sq ft unless the Board of Appeals authorizes less4
Residence A minimum dwelling
1,200 sq ft of clear floor area5
Certificate of occupancy
Required before a new structure is used or occupied6
Septic and sewer
Nassau County Department of Health3
RV and tiny home living
Not confirmed; accessory buildings in Residence A cannot be residences7

Who to call

Building permits

Village of Westbury Buildings Department

Building permits, certificates of occupancy, plumbing permits and rental permits inside the Village of Westbury

(516) 334-1700

buildingsdept@villageofwestbury.gov

235 Lincoln Place, Westbury, New York 11590

Septic permits

Nassau County Department of Health, Bureau of Environmental Engineering

Review of on-site sewage disposal plans, SPDES permits, and sewer-connection and septic-abandonment requirements in Nassau County

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 Westbury means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does Westbury, NY have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size and setbacks?

The Village of Westbury regulates land use through its own zoning, Chapter 248 of the Village Code2. Zoning is set village by village in Nassau County, not by a single county ordinance8.

The Residence A district is the one we reviewed. Dwellings there need at least 1,200 square feet of clear floor area5. Buildings go on lots of at least 7,500 square feet unless the Board of Appeals authorizes a smaller lot4. The front yard must be at least 30 feet deep9, and buildings may cover no more than 20% of the lot10. A dwelling must be between 20 and 30 feet tall11.

Accessory buildings in Residence A may not be used for residence purposes, so a backyard shed or garage cannot serve as a second dwelling7. Other districts have their own numbers; confirm the district of any parcel with the Buildings Department12.

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

Yes. Inside the Village of Westbury, nobody may start building, enlarging, altering, removing or demolishing a structure, or install a fence or in-ground pool, without first obtaining a permit from the Superintendent of Buildings1. The village administers the New York State Uniform Code and requires building permits for any work that must conform to it13.

The Buildings Department's own page says no work is to begin before a permit is issued12. Residential building permit fees start at $75.00 for the first $1,000.00 of construction cost12. The Buildings Department sits at 235 Lincoln Place; call (516) 334-1700 or email buildingsdept@villageofwestbury.gov12.

The village's rules apply inside village limits. Land outside Westbury's boundary falls under a different town or village, so check which jurisdiction a parcel is in before you call.

How do septic permits work inside Westbury?

We could not confirm a village septic rule for Westbury, so treat sewage disposal as a Nassau County Department of Health matter. Nassau County has the Department of Health approve on-site sewage disposal systems and issue the discharge permit14. The Department's Bureau of Environmental Engineering is at 516-227-96923.

Much of Nassau County is on public sewer. Where it is, residential and commercial facilities must connect to the sewer3. Nassau County also says a home that is not part of a new realty subdivision, or an existing home being renovated, should contact its local building department for septic approval requirements15. For a Westbury address, that means the village Buildings Department first, then the county Department of Health12.

A village permit application for new construction also asks for a letter on water hookup availability from the Westbury Water District12.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Westbury?

We could not confirm whether the Village of Westbury allows living in an RV, tiny home or manufactured home on a lot, so do not assume it is allowed. The village's zoning in Residence A lists a detached single-family dwelling as the use, and bars residence use in accessory buildings7.

The village also sets a minimum floor area of 1,200 square feet for new dwellings in Residence A, which a typical tiny home would not meet5. Ask the Westbury Buildings Department at (516) 334-1700 before buying a lot for this purpose12.

Building a home in Westbury: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the parcel's zoning district and its lot, floor-area and setback rules with the Buildings Department12.
  2. Get a letter on hookup availability from the Westbury Water District for new construction12.
  3. Prepare a building application with plans bearing the seal of a licensed engineer or registered architect12.
  4. Apply to the Superintendent of Buildings and pay the permit fee1.
  5. Check septic or sewer connection requirements with the Nassau County Department of Health3.
  6. Build, and have the work inspected under the state Uniform Code16.
  7. Obtain a certificate of occupancy before using or occupying the structure6.

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

Septic and sewer approvals, and any realty subdivision of five or more lots, go through the Nassau County Department of Health rather than the village17. Subdividing land inside an incorporated village also needs the village planning authority's sign-off on the final map18. The county has a separate public works role for work on county-owned roads19.

Costs matter too. Nassau County's typical home value is about $859,54420, and its effective property tax rate is 1.5%21. For land outside Westbury, see the Nassau County page.

Watch-outs

  • Buying a house with unpermitted work: the Buildings Department says the current owner is responsible for legalizing existing violations such as an outside cellar entrance built without a permit12.
  • Permit fees double when work starts before a permit is issued, per the village fee schedule on the Buildings Department page12.
  • We reviewed only the Residence A district; other Westbury districts may have different lot, height and setback rules22.
  • Septic, well, floodplain and RV rules inside the village were not confirmed; call the Buildings Department at (516) 334-170012.

Sources

  1. Article III: Building Administration - Village of Westbury, NY (eCode360) (Village of Westbury), quoted and re-checked
  2. Article IV: Residence A Districts - Village of Westbury, NY (eCode360) (Village of Westbury), quoted and re-checked
  3. Nassau County Department of Health, Bureau of Environmental Engineering (nassaucountyny.gov)
  4. Article IV: Residence A Districts - Village of Westbury, NY (eCode360) (Village of Westbury), quoted and re-checked
  5. Article IV: Residence A Districts - Village of Westbury, NY (eCode360) (Village of Westbury), quoted and re-checked
  6. Article III: Building Administration - Village of Westbury, NY (eCode360) (Village of Westbury), quoted and re-checked
  7. Article IV: Residence A Districts - Village of Westbury, NY (eCode360) (Village of Westbury), quoted and re-checked
  8. Zoning Review, quoted and re-checked
  9. Article IV: Residence A Districts - Village of Westbury, NY (eCode360) (Village of Westbury), quoted and re-checked
  10. Article IV: Residence A Districts - Village of Westbury, NY (eCode360) (Village of Westbury), quoted and re-checked
  11. Article IV: Residence A Districts - Village of Westbury, NY (eCode360) (Village of Westbury), quoted and re-checked
  12. Village of Westbury Buildings Department (villageofwestbury.gov)
  13. Article III: Building Administration - Village of Westbury, NY (eCode360) (Village of Westbury), quoted and re-checked
  14. On-Site Sewage Disposal System and SPDES Permit, quoted and re-checked
  15. On Site Sewage Disposal, quoted and re-checked
  16. Part 1203 Uniform Code and the Energy Code: Minimum Standards for Administration and Enforcement (New York statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. On Site Sewage Disposal | Nassau County, NY, quoted and re-checked
  18. Environmental Review, quoted and re-checked
  19. Building and Zoning Permits, quoted and re-checked
  20. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data
  21. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  22. Article IV: Residence A Districts - Village of Westbury, NY (eCode360) (Village of Westbury), quoted and re-checked

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 Westbury

Village of Westbury’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Erection, construction, enlargement, alteration, removal or demolition of structures, fences and in-ground pools inside Westbury village

    • Permit issued by the Superintendent of Buildings, who may impose reasonable conditions
    • Exemption in § 79-12 B for necessary repairs not materially affecting structural features (text not fully reviewed)
    • Permit expires if no work starts within six months
    “no person shall commence the erection, construction, enlargement, alteration, removal or demolition of any structure or the installation of any fence or in-ground swimming pool, or cause the same to be done, without first obtaining a permit from the superintendent”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Construction inside Westbury village; village administers and enforces the NYS Uniform Code through Chapter 79

    • Permits required for any work required to conform to the uniform code
    “building permits shall be required for any work that is required to conform to the uniform code.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Structures erected inside Westbury village subject to the uniform code and Chapter 79

    • Certificate of completion required if occupied more than 30 days after permitted work completes
    • Issued by the Superintendent on written application

    occupancy before certificate of completion: <= 30 days

    “no structure erected, subject to the uniform code and this chapter, shall be used or occupied, except to the extent provided in this section, until a certificate of occupancy has been issued by the superintendent”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Westbury village limits; Village Code Chapter 248 (Zoning) incl. Article IV Residence A Districts

    • Chapter 248 amended by L.L. No. 1-2026 (adopted 2026-03-16) per the article page
    “in a residence a district the following regulations shall apply. no building may be erected, altered or used, and no lot or premises may be used, except for one or more of the following purposes”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Westbury village zoning districts in Chapter 248, eCode360

    • Residence A reviewed only
    “in a residence a district the following regulations shall apply.”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Dwellings in Residence A district, Westbury village

    • Other residence districts not reviewed; § 248-18.1 living area requirements not reviewed

    minimum clear floor area: >= 1200 sq ft

    “no dwelling shall be erected which has a clear floor area of less than 1,200 square feet.”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Residence A district, Westbury village

    • Board of Appeals may authorize smaller lot under § 248-326a
    • Lot width and frontage in § 248-18 not reviewed

    minimum lot area: >= 7500 sq ft (Board of Appeals authorization)

    “no building shall be constructed on a lot of an area less than 7,500 square feet, unless authorized by the board of appeals”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Residence A district, Westbury village (front yard)

    • Rear and side yard rules in §§ 248-10, 248-11 not fully reviewed
    • Accessory buildings not within three feet of any property line

    minimum front yard depth: >= 30 feet

    “there shall be a front yard, the depth of which shall not be less than 30 feet.”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    Residence A district, Westbury village

    maximum building area: <= 20 percent of lot area

    “the building area shall not exceed 20% of the lot area.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Dwellings in Residence A district, Westbury village

    • Non-dwelling buildings other than accessory buildings limited to 35 feet (§ 248-16)

    maximum dwelling height: <= 30 feet · minimum dwelling height: >= 20 feet

    “no dwelling shall be erected which is less than 20 feet in height or which exceeds 30 feet in height.”
  • Accessory dwellingsLimited

    Residence A district, Westbury village

    • Only a detached single-family dwelling is a listed use
    • Accessory buildings shall not be used for residence purposes
    “accessory buildings shall not be used for residence purposes.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Village of Westbury or Nassau County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Westbury village
  • Inspections — Inspections inside Westbury village (§ 79-16)
  • Living in an RV — RV occupancy inside Westbury village
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping inside Westbury village
  • Tiny homes — Tiny homes inside Westbury village
13 more unanswered
  • Manufactured homes
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Subdividing land
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees
  • Permit process

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 Westbury publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Nassau County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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