Bolthole Index

Washington County, New York

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in the Town of Kingsbury, New York

The Town of Kingsbury in Washington County, New York requires a building permit for most construction, and the town's Building and Codes Department issues it1. Kingsbury has its own zoning code with mapped districts2. Septic systems appear on the town department's list of work it handles, while the Washington County Sanitary Code also governs them, so confirm with both offices before you dig13.

At a glance

Building permit
Required for work that must meet the NYS Uniform Code; sheds up to 144 sq ft are exempt4
Who issues it
Town of Kingsbury Building and Codes Department1
Zoning
Yes, town zoning code (Chapter 280) with a mapped set of districts25
Building height
35 feet for residential buildings and for buildings in residential and commercial districts6
Septic
County sanitary code applies; the town building department also lists septic systems. Confirm both31
Certificate of occupancy
Required for work done under a building permit7

Who to call

Building permits

Town of Kingsbury Building and Codes Department

Building permits, code inspections, and coordination of the planning and zoning boards inside the Town of Kingsbury

518-747-2188

inspector@kingsburyny.gov

6 Michigan Street, Hudson Falls, NY 12839

Septic permits

Washington County Department of Code Enforcement

Washington County Sanitary Code, including sewage disposal system permits countywide

(518) 746-2150

1153 Burgoyne Ave, Fort Edward, NY 12828

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

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Does Kingsbury, NY have zoning, and what does it mean for RVs, tiny homes and setbacks?

Yes. The Town of Kingsbury zones its own land under Chapter 280 of the town code, which divides the town into residential, commercial, industrial and other districts shown on an official map25. Washington County does not zone: in New York, counties have no general zoning power, and land-use decisions belong to each town and village89.

One height rule applies broadly: residential buildings, and any building in a residential or commercial district, are capped at 35 feet, with 50 feet for other buildings6. District-by-district lot sizes, setbacks and minimum home sizes depend on the district your parcel sits in, and we could not confirm them. Rules for RVs and tiny homes were not confirmed either, so ask the Code Enforcement Officer before you plan to live in one while you build1.

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

Yes, for nearly all construction. The Town of Kingsbury requires a building permit for any work that must conform to the state Uniform Code or Energy Code, including building, enlarging, altering, relocating or demolishing a structure4. A one-story detached shed or playhouse up to 144 square feet is exempt, as are some fences and finish work, and an exemption never excuses work that breaks the code or zoning law4.

The town's Building and Codes Department issues the permit and does the inspections1. Its list of work needing a permit includes new residences, garages, additions, decks, pools and sheds over 144 square feet1. A building permit expires 12 months after issuance, and a fee under the town code is due at application4.

What does the building process involve in Kingsbury?

The application is made in writing on a form from the code enforcement officer, signed by the owner or an agent, with a description of the work, tax map number and two sets of construction documents10. The site plan must show any well or septic system and distances to lot lines10.

Work must stay exposed until inspected, with inspections covering items such as footing and foundation, framing and a final inspection11. A certificate of occupancy is required before the building is used for any work done under a permit7. Washington County's own application form also asks whether a driveway permit from NYSDOT, the county or the town was issued, so settle driveway access early12.

How do septic permits work in Kingsbury?

Septic is split between the town and the county, and we could not confirm which office issues the permit for a lot inside Kingsbury. The town's Building and Codes Department lists septic systems among the work it handles and publishes a sewage disposal system application1. Washington County also enforces its Sanitary Code, Local Law No. 1 of 1988, through its Department of Code Enforcement3, and requires a permit before any septic system is installed13.

Call both offices before you buy, and expect a site evaluation: only about 1.7% of the soils in Washington County rate "not limited" for a conventional drain field, so many lots need an engineered system14. The county's 2026 fee schedule lists $100 for a sewage disposal system15.

What stays with Washington County, and what should you check before buying in Kingsbury?

Land outside the Town of Kingsbury follows its own town's rules, not Kingsbury's, and the county's building answers are on the Washington County page. Washington County's Department of Code Enforcement enforces the state codes and the county Sanitary Code16.

Before you buy, check three things. If the lot touches a state highway, a NYSDOT permit is required to build or change a driveway17. If the parcel is in a mapped flood hazard area, development needs a local floodplain permit18. And ask the town about private wells, subdivision of larger parcels, and whether zoning allows what you plan; we could not confirm those rules1.

Watch-outs

  • Washington County's pages describe the county Department of Code Enforcement as issuing building permits, while the Town of Kingsbury says its own Building and Codes Department issues them; confirm with the town office which one takes your application119.
  • Septic authority inside Kingsbury is split between the town and the county; ask both before closing13.
  • Lot size, setbacks, RV use, tiny homes, minimum home size and short-term rentals were not confirmed for Kingsbury's districts; ask the Code Enforcement Officer for the district your parcel is in1.

Sources

  1. Town of Kingsbury Building and Codes Department (kingsburyny.gov)
  2. Town of Kingsbury Code Ch. 280 Art. IV Districts and Map (Town of Kingsbury), quoted and re-checked
  3. Code Enforcement, quoted and re-checked
  4. Town of Kingsbury Code Ch. 95 Art. I Uniform Construction Code (Town of Kingsbury), quoted and re-checked
  5. Town of Kingsbury Code Ch. 280 Art. IV Districts and Map (Town of Kingsbury), quoted and re-checked
  6. Town of Kingsbury Code Ch. 280 Art. V General Regulations (Town of Kingsbury), quoted and re-checked
  7. Town of Kingsbury Code Ch. 95 Art. I Uniform Construction Code (Town of Kingsbury), quoted and re-checked
  8. Municipal Assistance, quoted and re-checked
  9. documents.dps.ny.gov (New York statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. Town of Kingsbury Code Ch. 95 Art. I Uniform Construction Code (Town of Kingsbury), quoted and re-checked
  11. Town of Kingsbury Code Ch. 95 Art. I Uniform Construction Code (Town of Kingsbury), quoted and re-checked
  12. Building Permit Application, quoted and re-checked
  13. washingtoncountyny.gov, quoted and re-checked
  14. 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
  15. Fee Schedule Effective January 2026, quoted and re-checked
  16. Code Enforcement | Washington County, NY, quoted and re-checked
  17. Residential Driveway Permits (New York statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. Floodplain Management - NYSDEC (New York statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. Building Frequently Asked Questions, 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 Town of Kingsbury

Town of Kingsbury’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction work subject to the Uniform Code inside the Town of Kingsbury

    • Exempt: one-story detached accessory structures up to 144 sq ft, playground equipment, above-ground pools under 24 inches deep, non-pool fences, certain retaining walls, finish work, and non-structural repairs
    • Exemption does not authorize work violating the Uniform Code, Energy Code or zoning law
    • Permit expires 12 months after issuance; fee under § 95-16 due at application

    accessory structure exemption: <= 144 sq ft (one-story detached tool/storage shed or playhouse) · permit validity: 12 months

    “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”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    All buildings inside the Town of Kingsbury

    • Town administers NYS Uniform Code and Energy Code through its Code Enforcement Officer
    “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 of kingsbury.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Work under a building permit inside the Town of Kingsbury

    • Inspected elements include site, footing/foundation, slab prep, framing, building systems, fire-resistant construction, energy code compliance, and final inspection
    • Fee under § 95-16 due at or before each 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

    Work under a building permit and use/occupancy conversions inside the Town of Kingsbury

    • Issued by the Code Enforcement Officer after inspection and compliance with the Uniform Code and Energy Code
    “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.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside the Town of Kingsbury under Chapter 280 Zoning

    • Districts: RF-5A, RA-1A, RA-M-1A, LDR-25, LDR-15, COM-1A, IND-75, PIC-75
    “for the purpose of this chapter, the town of kingsbury is hereby divided into districts which are designated by type and identified by symbol as follows”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts and map in the Town of Kingsbury

    • Map dated June 27, 2016 is on file at the town clerk's office and in the eCode360 version
    “the location and boundaries of said zones are hereby established as shown on the zoning map of the town of kingsbury, dated june 27, 2016”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Buildings in residential and commercial districts, and residential buildings in other districts, inside the Town of Kingsbury

    • All other buildings 50 feet maximum
    • Chimneys, flagpoles, antennas, cupolas, silos and similar structures are released from the limit
    • Individual district provisions may supersede where in conflict

    maximum building height: <= 35 feet (50 feet for all other buildings)

    “the maximum height of buildings in residential and commercial districts and of residential buildings or portions of buildings used for residential purposes in other districts shall be 35 feet.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Building permit applications inside the Town of Kingsbury

    • Application must be signed by owner or authorized agent and include a description of work, tax map number, occupancy classification, and two sets of construction documents
    • Site plan must show existing/proposed buildings, any well or septic system, and distances to lot lines
    • Stormwater pollution prevention plan if applicable
    “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 Kingsbury or Washington County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside the Town of Kingsbury
  • Minimum dwelling size — Residential districts inside the Town of Kingsbury
  • Minimum lot size — RA-1A and other residential districts inside the Town of Kingsbury
  • Setbacks — Residential districts inside the Town of Kingsbury
  • Lot coverage — Residential districts inside the Town of Kingsbury
16 more unanswered
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees

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

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