Bolthole Index

Tioga County, New York

Building permits, lot rules and septic in the Town of Barton, New York

The Town of Barton, New York, in Tioga County, requires a building permit for any work that must meet the state Uniform Code, and its code enforcement officer issues it1. Outside water and sewer improvement areas, a building lot must be at least 2 acres2. Septic permits come from Tioga County Public Health, not the town3. We could not confirm whether Barton has a separate zoning law.

At a glance

Building permit
Required for work covered by the NYS Uniform Code; issued by the town1
Permit-exempt structures
One-story detached sheds and playhouses up to 144 square feet1
Minimum lot (outside improvement areas)
2 acres, 150 feet wide2
Road setback (outside improvement areas)
Greater of 50 feet from right-of-way or 75 feet from centerline4
Side and rear setback (outside improvement areas)
25 feet4
Certificate of occupancy
Required for work under a building permit5
Septic permit
Tioga County Public Health3
Zoning law
Not confirmed; ask the town code enforcement officer6

Who to call

Building permits

Town of Barton Code Enforcement

Building permit applications, inspections and certificates of occupancy inside the Town of Barton

(607) 565-2261 x 3

code@townofbartonny.gov

Planning & zoning

Town of Barton Municipal Office

Town clerk, building permit application forms, and the town's contact directory

(607) 565-2261

304 State Route 17C Waverly, NY 14892

Septic permits

Tioga County Public Health

Septic-system permits and environmental-health administration for Tioga County

607-687-8600

1062 State Route 38, PO Box 120, Owego, NY 13827

Online permits →

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

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Do you need a building permit in the Town of Barton, NY?

Yes. The Town of Barton requires a building permit for any work that must conform to the state Uniform Code or Energy Code, including construction, enlargement, alteration, removal, relocation or demolition of a building or structure1. The town administers the state codes itself under Chapter 79 of its town code, adopted in 20067.

The one exemption the town code names is a one-story detached tool or storage shed, playhouse or similar structure of 144 square feet or less on a one- or two-family lot1. Exempt work still has to meet the code1.

Work may not start until the permit is issued. A permit is invalid if work has not started within six months and expires after 12 months8. The town's own code offers no owner-builder carve-out that we could find, so plan on a permit even if you build the home yourself.

Who issues building permits in Barton, and how do you reach them?

Inside the Town of Barton, the town's code enforcement officer takes applications and enforces the building code8. Contact Town of Barton Code Enforcement at (607) 565-2261 x 3 or code@townofbartonny.gov6. The town's page says permits are required for all stages of work6.

Applications are made in writing on a form provided by or acceptable to the code enforcement officer8. The Town of Barton Municipal Office is at 304 State Route 17C, Waverly, NY 148929.

The fee schedule is set by town board resolution and is not printed in the code, so ask the code officer for current amounts10. The county does not issue building permits for land inside Barton; Tioga County's permit offices cover septic and county roads.

Does the Town of Barton have zoning, and what are the lot size and setback rules?

We could not confirm whether the Town of Barton has a separate zoning law with use districts. Counties in New York cannot adopt zoning, so any zoning in Barton would be the town's own11. Ask the code enforcement officer6 before you assume a use is allowed, especially for RVs, tiny homes or accessory dwellings, which we could not confirm either way.

What the town code does set is lot size and setbacks. Outside both a water improvement area and a sewer improvement area, a lot with a structure must be at least 2 acres and 150 feet wide2. Road setback is the greater of 50 feet from the right-of-way or 75 feet from the road centerline, and side and rear setbacks are 25 feet4.

Inside both improvement areas the lot can be as small as one-third acre and 100 feet wide12, with 10-foot side and rear setbacks13. Variances need a planning board referral and town board review2.

How do septic permits work in the Town of Barton?

Septic permits for Barton addresses come from Tioga County Public Health, not the town. The county says a permit for new construction and repair of existing septic systems is required and must meet NYSDOH Residential Wastewater standards3. Public Health handles the design, construction and operation of septic systems14. Call 607-687-8600 or use the county's online septic application15.

The county's fee schedule lists $400 plus an engineer fee for a new install or replacement system, and $150 plus an engineer fee for a repair or extension16. Fees took effect January 1, 202517.

Soil matters here. Tioga County has 0% of soils rated not limited for a conventional drain field, so expect a site evaluation and possibly an engineered system18. We could not confirm whether the town's own wastewater chapters add rules, so ask the code officer.

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

  1. Confirm the lot meets the minimum size for its location: 2 acres and 150 feet wide outside improvement areas2.
  2. Ask the code enforcement officer whether any zoning or planning board review applies, and for the current fee schedule6.
  3. Apply to Tioga County Public Health for a septic permit before construction3.
  4. Apply for the building permit with the town; do not start work before it is issued8.
  5. Keep work exposed until it is inspected, and schedule a final inspection once the permitted work is complete19.
  6. Get a certificate of occupancy before anyone moves in5.
  7. If the driveway meets a county road, it must be permitted20; if your residence is on a state highway, you need a NYSDOT permit21.

What stays with Tioga County, and what to check before you buy in Barton

Tioga County, not the town, handles septic permits3, and county roads need driveway permits for any new driveway or driveway work20. For land outside Barton, see the Tioga County page.

Before buying, check whether the parcel sits in a water or sewer improvement area, because that changes the lot size and setback rules2. Ask the code officer about floodplain rules, driveways, farming and mobile home chapters in the town code, which we have not confirmed.

Tioga County's effective property tax rate is 2.4%22, with a median bill of $3,750 a year23. The nearest city of 100,000 or more is about 58 miles from the county center24.

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm whether the Town of Barton has a zoning law, so call the code enforcement officer at (607) 565-2261 x 3 before relying on any use, RV or tiny-home plan6.
  • Lot size and setback rules change depending on whether the parcel lies in a water or sewer improvement area12.
  • The town's building permit fee schedule is set by board resolution and not printed in the code, so get current amounts from the town10.
  • Septic approval comes from Tioga County Public Health even for lots inside the town3.

Sources

  1. Chapter 79 Fire Prevention and Building Construction, Town of Barton, NY (eCode360) (Town of Barton), quoted and re-checked
  2. Chapter 79 Fire Prevention and Building Construction, Town of Barton, NY (eCode360) (Town of Barton), quoted and re-checked
  3. Tioga County Public Health, quoted and re-checked
  4. Chapter 79 Fire Prevention and Building Construction, Town of Barton, NY (eCode360) (Town of Barton), quoted and re-checked
  5. Chapter 79 Fire Prevention and Building Construction, Town of Barton, NY (eCode360) (Town of Barton), quoted and re-checked
  6. Town of Barton Code Enforcement (townofbartonny.gov)
  7. Chapter 79 Fire Prevention and Building Construction, Town of Barton, NY (eCode360) (Town of Barton), quoted and re-checked
  8. Chapter 79 Fire Prevention and Building Construction, Town of Barton, NY (eCode360) (Town of Barton), quoted and re-checked
  9. Town of Barton Municipal Office (townofbartonny.gov)
  10. Chapter 79 Fire Prevention and Building Construction, Town of Barton, NY (eCode360) (Town of Barton), quoted and re-checked
  11. documents.dps.ny.gov (New York statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  12. Chapter 79 Fire Prevention and Building Construction, Town of Barton, NY (eCode360) (Town of Barton), quoted and re-checked
  13. Chapter 79 Fire Prevention and Building Construction, Town of Barton, NY (eCode360) (Town of Barton), quoted and re-checked
  14. Tioga County Public Health, quoted and re-checked
  15. Tioga County Public Health (tiogacountyny.com)
  16. Tioga County Environmental Health Fee Schedule, quoted and re-checked
  17. Tioga County Public Health, quoted and re-checked
  18. 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
  19. Chapter 79 Fire Prevention and Building Construction, Town of Barton, NY (eCode360) (Town of Barton), quoted and re-checked
  20. Tioga County Public Works, quoted and re-checked
  21. Residential Driveway Permits (New York statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  22. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  23. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  24. Straight-line distance from the county center to the nearest city of 100,000+ people: 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 Barton

Town of Barton’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction, enlargement, alteration, relocation or demolition of buildings and structures inside Barton town limits

    • Exempt categories under § 79-4 b include one-story detached tool or storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses of one- or two-family dwellings, provided the gross floor area does not exceed 144 square feet (13.38 square meters).
    • Exemption from a permit is not authorization to perform noncompliant work (§ 79-4 c).

    exempt shed gross floor area maximum: <= 144 square feet (exemption for one-story detached accessory sheds under § 79-4 b(1))

    “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”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Construction inside Barton town limits: the town administers the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code and the Energy Code under its own Chapter 79

    • Adopted by town local law in 2006; the Uniform Code and Energy Code are applied as currently in effect and as amended, per the definitions in Chapter 79.
    “this article 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 town.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Permitted construction inside Barton town limits, inspected by the town code enforcement officer

    • Inspection elements listed in § 79-5 b apply where applicable; work must remain exposed until inspected and accepted (§ 79-5 a).
    “a final inspection after all work authorized by the building permit has been completed”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Work subject to a building permit and any conversion of a building's use or occupancy inside Barton town limits

    • Occupancy of a building for which a permit was issued is permitted only by a certificate of occupancy (§ 79-7 a); temporary certificates are available under § 79-7 d.
    “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.”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Lots inside Barton town limits that lie outside both a water improvement area and a sewer improvement area (the main case)

    • Applies to any lot on which a structure may be erected or a prebuilt structure placed; mobile home park lots within a permitted park are excepted (§ 79-17).
    • Variances may be granted under § 79-18 for good cause shown, after planning board referral and town board review.

    minimum lot area: >= 2 acres (outside both a water improvement area and a sewer improvement area) · minimum lot width: >= 150 feet (outside both a water improvement area and a sewer improvement area)

    “any lot upon which any structure may be hereafter erected or upon which a prebuilt structure may be placed shall be at least two acres in area with a minimum width of 150 feet.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Structures on lots inside Barton town limits that lie outside both a water improvement area and a sewer improvement area (the main case)

    • Road setback is measured from the road right-of-way or centerline, whichever is greater, as stated in § 79-15 b.
    • Variances may be granted under § 79-18.

    road front or side setback from right-of-way: >= 50 feet (outside both improvement areas; the greater of this or 75 feet from road centerline applies) · road setback from road centerline: >= 75 feet (outside both improvement areas; the greater of this or 50 feet from right-of-way applies) · side and rear lot-line setback: >= 25 feet (outside both improvement areas)

    “the road front or road side of such structure shall be set back the greater of 50 feet from the edge of the right-of-way of the road or 75 feet from the center line of the adjoining road.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Building permit, amended or renewed permit, certificate of occupancy and inspection fees for work inside Barton town limits

    • The fee schedule itself was not located in the code; it is set and amended by town board resolution.
    • Fees are payable at submission of a building permit application, an amended permit or a renewal (§ 79-4 k).
    “a fee schedule shall be established by resolution of the town board of this town.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Building permit application process for work inside Barton town limits, administered by the code enforcement officer

    • The application form and the fee schedule are not included in the code; they are provided by the code enforcement officer or set by town board resolution.
    • Work may not begin until a permit is issued; the permit is invalid if work is not started within six months and expires after 12 months (§ 79-4 i).
    “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 Town of Barton or Tioga County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Whether an owner may build or permit their own home inside Barton town limits
  • Local zoning — Whether Barton town adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance for land inside the town limits
  • Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside Barton town limits
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum floor area of a dwelling inside Barton town limits
  • Lot coverage — Maximum lot coverage for buildings inside Barton town limits
16 more unanswered
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • 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 Town of Barton publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Tioga County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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