Bolthole Index

Ontario County, New York

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

The Village of Bloomfield, in Ontario County, New York, adopted its own zoning law (Chapter 135)1 and requires a village building permit for work that must conform to the state Uniform Code, including residential construction2. Building permits and zoning are village matters. Septic oversight in Ontario County runs through the state health department's Geneva District Office3, and we could not confirm a village septic-permit rule.

At a glance

Building permit
Required from the village for Uniform Code work, subject to listed exemptions2
Zoning
Village zoning law, Chapter 135, with published districts14
Certificate of occupancy
Required for work that needed a village building permit5
Septic
Engineer inspection before the certificate of occupancy; permit issuer not confirmed in village code63
Sewer
Public sewer required where existing sewers are close enough; septic only where unavailable7

Who to call

Building permits

Village of Bloomfield, Code Enforcement and Village Clerk

Village building permits, code enforcement and zoning for land inside Bloomfield; the village website lists a Code Enforcement department

46 Main St, Bloomfield, NY 14469

Septic permits

New York State Department of Health - Geneva District Office

State environmental-health enforcement for Ontario County, including septic questions

315-789-3030

624 Pre-Emption Road, Geneva, NY 14456-1334

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 23, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Does the Village of Bloomfield have zoning?

Yes. The Village of Bloomfield, NY adopted Chapter 135, its zoning law, through the Village Board of Trustees1. The published schedule covers residential, multiple-residence, manufactured-home-park, business, commercial, industrial and overlay districts4. Ontario County itself does not zone: New York gives zoning power to cities, towns and villages, not counties8.

District decides the numbers. In the R-1-20 Residential District, a single-family lot needs 20,000 square feet9, with front and rear setbacks of 40 feet and side setbacks of 20 feet for the principal building10. Building coverage tops out at 20% of the lot11 and height at 35 feet12. In R-1-15, the minimum lot is 15,000 square feet13. Single-family manufactured homes sit in the MH Manufactured Home Park District, which has a 10-acre minimum lot area14.

Do you need a building permit in the Village of Bloomfield?

Yes, with listed exceptions. A village building permit is required for any work in Bloomfield that must conform to the New York State Uniform Code or Energy Code, and work may not start until the permit is issued2. The village administers and enforces the state Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code itself15.

Three more steps follow the permit. The Code Enforcement Officer inspects work, which must stay accessible and exposed until accepted16. A Certificate of Occupancy or Certificate of Compliance is required for any work that needed a permit5. Fees are set under the village code and are due when the application is submitted; we could not find a dollar schedule17.

The application is written, on a form acceptable to the Code Enforcement Officer, signed by the owner or an authorized agent18. We could not confirm an owner-builder exemption in the village code, so ask the village before assuming you can skip a step.

Who issues building permits in the Village of Bloomfield, and how do you reach them?

The village itself, not Ontario County. The village's website lists a Code Enforcement department, a Village Clerk/Treasurer and a Zoning Board of Appeals, with the village office at 46 Main St, Bloomfield, NY 1446919. We could not confirm a direct phone number for Code Enforcement, so call or visit the village office to be routed.

The Ontario County Planning Department is not the place to apply. x to municipalities on planning and zoning rather than issuing village building permits20. Land outside village limits follows the rules of the surrounding town, so check the town before you buy a parcel on the edge of the village; our Ontario County page covers the county-wide picture.

How do septic permits work in the Village of Bloomfield?

Septic systems are the weakest-confirmed topic here. The village code requires public sewer wherever existing sewers are close enough, and allows septic tanks and leach beds only where sewers are unavailable or too far for public sewer to be economic7. Where septic is allowed, a licensed professional engineer must inspect and certify the system before any Certificate of Occupancy is issued6.

Who approves the design is not settled in the village code material we reviewed. Statewide, approval may be needed from a city, county or district office of the New York State Department of Health before construction21. In Ontario County, environmental-health enforcement is handled by the NYSDOH Geneva District Office22. Call that office before you buy a lot without sewer service.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in the Village of Bloomfield?

We could not confirm it. The village zoning chapter contains a special-permit provision about rental of recreational vehicles, but we found no rule that settles living in an RV or tiny home on private land, and no accessory-dwelling or temporary-camping rule. Do not assume that silence means permission: village zoning applies to every parcel inside the village. Ask the village Code Enforcement Officer in writing before you place an RV or tiny home, and get the answer for your specific zoning district19.

Building a home in the Village of Bloomfield: the steps, in order

  1. Find the parcel's zoning district on the village zoning map and check lot, setback and coverage limits in Chapter 1354.
  2. Ask whether public sewer reaches the lot; if not, call the NYSDOH Geneva District Office about septic design722.
  3. Apply in writing for a village building permit before starting work18.
  4. Keep work exposed for the Code Enforcement Officer's inspections16.
  5. Have a licensed professional engineer inspect and certify any septic system before occupancy6.
  6. Obtain the Certificate of Occupancy or Certificate of Compliance5.

What stays with Ontario County, and what to check before you buy in Bloomfield?

Ontario County does not issue the village's building permits or set its zoning23. A driveway that connects to an Ontario County road needs a county highway work permit from Ontario County Public Works24; a residence on a state highway needs an NYSDOT permit for a driveway25. We could not confirm the village's flood-hazard permit rule; statewide, private development in FEMA-mapped flood hazard areas needs a local floodplain permit26. Ontario County's effective property tax rate is 2.2%27. See the Ontario County page for county-wide figures.

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm a village septic-permit rule, so ask the NYSDOH Geneva District Office who must approve a septic design before you buy a lot without sewer22.
  • RV living, tiny homes, accessory dwellings, short-term rentals and wells are not confirmed in the village code we reviewed, so ask the village Code Enforcement Officer in writing19.
  • Building permit exemptions are listed in the village code but we have not confirmed their details; do not start work on a shed or repair without asking the village2.

Sources

  1. Chapter 135: Zoning (Village of Bloomfield), quoted and re-checked
  2. Chapter 63: Building Construction and Fire Prevention (Village of Bloomfield), quoted and re-checked
  3. Complaints, Permits, and Licensing, quoted and re-checked
  4. Chapter 135: Zoning (Village of Bloomfield), quoted and re-checked
  5. Chapter 63: Building Construction and Fire Prevention (Village of Bloomfield), quoted and re-checked
  6. ecode360.com (Village of Bloomfield), quoted and re-checked
  7. Chapter 63: Building Construction and Fire Prevention (Village of Bloomfield), quoted and re-checked
  8. documents.dps.ny.gov (New York statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. ecode360.com (Village of Bloomfield), quoted and re-checked
  10. Schedule I, Zoning Schedule (Village of Bloomfield), quoted and re-checked
  11. ecode360.com (Village of Bloomfield), quoted and re-checked
  12. Schedule I, Zoning Schedule (Village of Bloomfield), quoted and re-checked
  13. ecode360.com (Village of Bloomfield), quoted and re-checked
  14. Schedule I, Zoning Schedule (Village of Bloomfield), quoted and re-checked
  15. Chapter 63: Building Construction and Fire Prevention (Village of Bloomfield), quoted and re-checked
  16. Chapter 63: Building Construction and Fire Prevention (Village of Bloomfield), quoted and re-checked
  17. Chapter 63: Building Construction and Fire Prevention (Village of Bloomfield), quoted and re-checked
  18. Chapter 63: Building Construction and Fire Prevention (Village of Bloomfield), quoted and re-checked
  19. Village of Bloomfield, Code Enforcement and Village Clerk (villageofbloomfieldny.gov)
  20. County and Community Maps, quoted and re-checked
  21. State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) Permit Program (New York statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  22. New York State Department of Health - Geneva District Office (ontariocountyny.gov)
  23. Ontario County Planning Board, quoted and re-checked
  24. Highway Work Permit: Driveway Permit Checklist/Instructions, quoted and re-checked
  25. Residential Driveway Permits (New York statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  26. Floodplain Management - NYSDEC (New York statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  27. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 23, 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 Bloomfield

Village of Bloomfield’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Work in Bloomfield village that must conform to the Uniform Code and/or Energy Code, including residential construction.

    • The listed § 63-4B exemptions apply.
    • Work may not commence until a Village building permit is obtained.
    “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”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Buildings, structures, and premises in Bloomfield village.

    • Except as otherwise provided in the Uniform Code, Energy Code, other state law, or Chapter 63.
    “This chapter provides for the administration and enforcement of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code [...] in The Village of Bloomfield.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Permitted construction in Bloomfield village where the listed elements are applicable.

    • Work must remain accessible and exposed until inspected and accepted.
    • A remote inspection may replace an in-person inspection only at the authorized official's discretion and where it meets the stated standard.
    “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

    Work subject to a Village building permit and structures converted to another use or occupancy classification in Bloomfield village.

    • A Certificate of Occupancy or Certificate of Compliance is required.
    • The Code Enforcement Officer or authorized Inspector must inspect before issuance.
    “A Certificate of Occupancy or Certificate of Compliance shall be required for any work which is the subject of a Building Permit”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Bloomfield village limits.

    • Chapter 135 was adopted by the Village Board of Trustees; amendments are noted where applicable.
    “[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Bloomfield 11-24-2015 by L.L. No. 6-2015. Amendments noted where applicable.]”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Land inside Bloomfield village limits.

    • The published zoning schedule identifies residential, multiple-residence, manufactured-home-park, business, commercial, industrial, and overlay districts.
    “§ 135-62 R-1-20 Residential District: single-family, 20,000 square feet. [...] § 135-73 Village Center (VC) District.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Septic tanks and leach beds used for development inside Bloomfield village.

    • Applies before issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy.
    • Inspection and certification must be by a licensed professional engineer; it replaces Village Code Enforcement Officer inspection of that system.
    “Prior to the issuance of any Certificate of Occupancy, each system shall be inspected by a licensed professional engineer”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Development inside Bloomfield village without economically available public sanitary sewers.

    • Only where sanitary sewers are unavailable or too distant for public sewers to be provided economically.
    • The system must be designed to the identified state, Village, and county standards and inspected/certified before a Certificate of Occupancy.
    “Where sanitary sewers are not available or where the proposed development is too distant from existing facilities for public sewers to be provided economically, development may be permitted on septic tanks and leach beds.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    Sanitary-wastewater service for development inside Bloomfield village.

    • Sanitary sewer use is required where the proximity of existing sewers makes it possible.
    • Where sewers are unavailable or public sewer is uneconomic, septic tanks and leach beds may be permitted.
    “Sanitary sewers shall be used wherever the proximity of existing sewers makes it possible.”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Building-permit applications and inspections in Bloomfield village.

    • The fee specified in or determined under § 63-19 must be paid at application submission; no dollar schedule was located in the opened material.
    “The fee specified in or determined in accordance with the provisions set forth in § 63-19 (Fees) of this chapter must be paid at the time of submission”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Building-permit applications in Bloomfield village.

    • Application must be in writing on an approved form and signed by the owner or authorized agent.
    • It must contain sufficient information for a compliance determination and the specified documentation.
    “Applications for a Building Permit shall be made in writing on a form provided by or otherwise acceptable to the Code Enforcement Officer.”

Rules another office applies inside Village of Bloomfield

Village of Bloomfield does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Single-family dwellings in the R-1-15 Residential District inside Bloomfield village.

    minimum lot area: 15000 square feet (R-1-15 single-family dwelling) · minimum lot width: 90 feet (R-1-15 single-family dwelling)

    “R-1-15 Residential Single-family dwelling 15,000 90 40 40 20 15 10 35 20”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — Single-family dwellings in the R-1-20 Residential District inside Bloomfield village.
      “R-1-20 Residential Single-family dwelling 20,000 100 40 40 20 15 10 35 20”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Single-family dwellings in the R-1-20 Residential District inside Bloomfield village.

    • The zoning schedule headings identify the sequence of principal-building front, rear, and side setbacks, followed by accessory-building rear and side setbacks.

    principal building front setback: 40 feet (R-1-20 single-family dwelling) · principal building rear setback: 40 feet (R-1-20 single-family dwelling) · principal building side setback: 20 feet (R-1-20 single-family dwelling)

    “Principal Building Accessory Building Front Rear Side Rear Side”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    Single-family dwellings in the R-1-20 Residential District inside Bloomfield village.

    maximum building coverage on lot: 20 percent (R-1-20 single-family dwelling)

    “R-1-20 Residential Single-family dwelling 20,000 100 40 40 20 15 10 35 20”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Single-family dwellings in the R-1-20 Residential District inside Bloomfield village.

    maximum building height: 35 feet (R-1-20 single-family dwelling)

    “R-1-20 Residential Single-family dwelling 20,000 100 40 40 20 15 10 35 20”
  • Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

    Single-family manufactured-home dwellings in the MH Manufactured Home Park District inside Bloomfield village.

    • The schedule identifies a 10-acre minimum lot area, 300-foot minimum lot width, stated yard dimensions, 24-foot maximum building height, and 20% maximum building coverage; § 135-65F has additional requirements and uses.

    minimum lot area: 10 acres (MH Manufactured Home Park District) · maximum building height: 24 feet (MH Manufactured Home Park District) · maximum building coverage: 20 percent (MH Manufactured Home Park District)

    “MH Manufactured Home Park Single-family manufactured home dwellings210 acres 300 100 60 60 60 60 24 20”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential work inside Bloomfield village.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwellings inside Bloomfield village.
  • Living in an RV — Residential occupancy of a recreational vehicle on private land inside Bloomfield village.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Bloomfield village.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Bloomfield village.
8 more unanswered
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Septic permit
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • 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 Bloomfield publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Ontario County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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