Bolthole Index

Westchester County, New York

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

The Town of Bedford, New York requires a building permit for new construction, and its own Building Department issues it under the state Uniform Code12. Bedford adopts and enforces its own zoning ordinance, Chapter 125 of the town code3. Septic systems carry a town inspection rule4, and the Westchester County Department of Health permits new systems5.

At a glance

Building permit
Required; issued by the Town of Bedford Building Department12
Zoning
Town of Bedford's own zoning ordinance (Chapter 125)3
Certificate of occupancy
Required for work done under a building permit6
Septic
County Department of Health permits new systems; the town requires periodic inspections54
Accessory apartments
Listed in the zoning code for existing single-family homes; details unconfirmed7
RV and tiny home living
Not confirmed; uses not listed as permitted in a district are prohibited by default3
Typical home value (Westchester County)
About $879,0008

Who to call

Building permits

Town of Bedford Building Department

Building permits, inspections, certificates of occupancy and enforcement of the zoning ordinance inside the Town of Bedford

914-666-8040

425 Cherry St, Bedford Hills, NY 10507

Online permits →

Septic permits

Westchester County Department of Health, Realty Subdivision and Land Development Review

Reviews and permits every subdivision plan and new subsurface sewage treatment system across Westchester County

148 Martine Avenue, White Plains, NY 10601

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

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Does Bedford, NY have zoning, and what does it mean for your lot?

Yes. The Town of Bedford adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance, Chapter 125 of the town code3. Westchester County does not zone for its towns; zoning in the county is set by each city, town and village, so the town code is the one that governs a Bedford parcel9.

Under Bedford's rule, any use not specifically listed as permitted in a district is deemed prohibited, with one stated exception3. That matters for anything unusual, such as a second dwelling or an RV used as a home. The town's code lists accessory apartments in existing single-family residences, but we could not confirm the conditions7. Lot sizes, setbacks and height limits vary by district and sit in the town's dimensional tables, which we could not confirm; ask the Building Department which district your parcel is in before you plan anything2.

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

Yes. The Town of Bedford Building Department issues building permits, and the state Uniform Code applies in Bedford as it does everywhere in New York outside New York City110. The town's Building Department lists permits for accessory structures including sheds, additions, renovations, fences and walls, finished basements, roofs, swimming pools, generators and tree removal2. Applications are made in writing on a form from the building inspector's office, and work may not start until a permit is issued11.

The town also accepts applications online through its permit portal2. Inspections happen during construction, and a certificate of occupancy is required for any work done under a building permit126. The permit fee comes from a fee schedule set by the Town Board, which we could not confirm; ask the Building Department for current amounts11.

How do septic permits work inside Bedford?

Septic is shared between the town and Westchester County. The Westchester County Department of Health reviews and permits every new subsurface sewage treatment system in the county, and its engineers visit the site during construction5. Separately, Bedford's town code requires the owner of any parcel on a septic system to have it inspected at least once every five years4.

Soils matter here. About 9.7% of Westchester County soils rate as not limited for a conventional drain field, so most lots need a site evaluation and often an engineered system13. We could not confirm whether Bedford adds its own installation permit on top of the county's; ask the Building Department and the county Health Department before buying a lot without sewer.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Bedford, NY?

We could not confirm it. Bedford's zoning code treats any use that is not specifically listed as permitted in a district as prohibited, so an RV, tiny home or other nonstandard dwelling cannot be assumed to be allowed3. The town's rules on RV occupancy, tiny homes and temporary camping were not located, so call the Building Department and ask which district your parcel is in and whether the use is listed2. New York's statewide camping rules cover state campgrounds and do not answer this question for private land.

Building a home in Bedford: the steps, in order

  1. Ask the Building Department which zoning district your parcel is in and what the zoning ordinance allows there32.
  2. If the parcel is not on sewer, contact the Westchester County Department of Health about the septic design and permit5.
  3. Check whether the lot is in a flood-prone area, since the town's zoning regulates development there14.
  4. Apply for the building permit with construction documents, on the town's form or its online portal, and wait for the permit before starting work112.
  5. Schedule inspections during construction12.
  6. Get the certificate of occupancy before anyone moves in6.

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

Westchester County does not issue building permits or set zoning for Bedford; its Department of Planning only reviews certain planning and zoning actions that the town refers to it9. The county Health Department handles new septic systems5. For land outside Bedford, see the Westchester County page.

Budget for cost: Westchester County's effective property tax rate is 1.6%15, the median property tax bill is $10,001 a year16, and the typical home value is about $879,0008. A driveway onto a state highway needs a New York State Department of Transportation permit17.

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm Bedford's lot sizes, setbacks, building height limits or RV and tiny-home rules, so ask the Building Department for your parcel's district before you rely on any plan2.
  • We could not confirm whether Bedford requires a separate septic installation permit beyond the county's review and the town's inspection rule, so ask both offices45.
  • We could not confirm whether a new home in Bedford must connect to public water or sewer or whether a private well needs a permit, so ask the Building Department.2
  • Westchester County licenses home-improvement contractors, and we found no owner-builder exemption from Bedford's building permit, so plan on hiring licensed trades for electrical and plumbing work182.

Sources

  1. Chapter 59 Fire Prevention and Building Code, Uniform, Town of Bedford NY (eCode360) (Town of Bedford), quoted and re-checked
  2. Town of Bedford Building Department (bedfordny.gov)
  3. Chapter 125 Zoning, Town of Bedford NY (eCode360) (Town of Bedford), quoted and re-checked
  4. Town of Bedford, NY code table of contents (eCode360) (Town of Bedford), quoted and re-checked
  5. Westchester County Department of Health, Realty Subdivision and Land Development Review (health.westchestercountyny.gov)
  6. Chapter 59 Fire Prevention and Building Code, Uniform, certificates and inspections, Town of Bedford NY (eCode360) (Town of Bedford), quoted and re-checked
  7. Chapter 125 Zoning, Town of Bedford NY (eCode360) (Town of Bedford), quoted and re-checked
  8. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data
  9. Director of Code Enforcement, quoted and re-checked
  10. Legal Memorandum LG03: NYS Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code: What Elected Officials Need to Know (New York statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. Chapter 59 Fire Prevention and Building Code, Uniform, Town of Bedford NY (eCode360) (Town of Bedford), quoted and re-checked
  12. Chapter 59 Fire Prevention and Building Code, Uniform, certificates and inspections, Town of Bedford NY (eCode360) (Town of Bedford), quoted and re-checked
  13. 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
  14. Chapter 125 Zoning, Town of Bedford NY (eCode360) (Town of Bedford), quoted and re-checked
  15. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  16. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  17. Residential Driveway Permits (New York statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. Consumer Alert: NYS Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection Provides New Yorkers with Tips for Avoiding Home Improvement Scams (New York statewide rule), quoted and re-checked

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 Bedford

Town of Bedford’s own rules

  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Building construction inside Bedford town limits under Chapter 59 Fire Prevention and Building Code, Uniform of the Town code.

    • Chapter 59 definitions incorporate the Residential Code of New York State (RCNYS), the New York State Energy Conservation Construction Code (EC3), the Fire Code of New York State (FCNYS) and the Property Maintenance Code of New York State (PMCNYS) by reference.
    • Amendment noted on § 59-8 is dated 12-20-2022 (amendment date, not an effective date).
    “RCNYS the Residential Code of New York State as currently incorporated by reference in 19 NYCRR Part 1220.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Work under a building permit inside Bedford town limits, before a certificate of occupancy is issued.

    • Chapter 59 § 59-10 provides for construction inspections; the building inspector also conducts inspections before certificates of occupancy and temporary certificates.
    • Where applicable, structural observations, special-inspection reports, flood hazard certifications and energy-code test results must be provided before a certificate of occupancy issues.
    “the building inspector, or their duly authorized designee, shall inspect the building, structure, or work prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Work covered by a building permit and conversions of a building to another use or occupancy classification inside Bedford town limits.

    • A certificate of occupancy is issued only if the proposed use conforms to the Uniform Code and to Chapter 125 §§ 125-126 and 125-127 (zoning enforcement and certificates).
    • A temporary certificate may be issued under § 59-9(e) only if the building can be occupied safely and required fire and life-safety components are in place.
    • Fee set by the town board fee schedule must be paid at application.
    “a certificate of occupancy shall be required for any work which is the subject of a building permit”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Bedford town limits: the Town of Bedford adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance, Chapter 125 Zoning of the Town of Bedford code.

    • The chapter header states it was adopted by the Town Board on 1-18-1983 with amendments noted where applicable; this is an adoption date, not a claim about current effective text.
    • Chapter 125 § 125-49 provides that any use not specifically listed as permitted in a district is deemed prohibited, except as provided in § 125-29.5.
    • District-by-district dimensional tables (Attachment 5:1 and the commercial/industrial table) and the use schedules were not opened and are not summarized here.
    “[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Bedford 1-18-1983. Amendments noted where applicable.]”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts and zoning map for land inside Bedford town limits

    • Chapter 125 § 125-4 enumerates the districts and § 125-5 refers to the zoning map; the district list itself and map were not opened.
    • District names seen in a secondary mirror were not used as evidence.
    “The Town of Bedford is hereby divided into classes of districts as follows:”
  • Accessory dwellingsLimited

    Accessory apartments in existing single-family residences inside Bedford town limits

    • The Chapter 125 table of contents lists § 125-79 accessory apartments in existing single-family residences; the section body (likely a special-permit use) was not opened.
    • Under the default use rule, uses not specifically listed as permitted are prohibited (§ 125-49(b)).
    • Accessory apartments in other forms were not verified.
    “§ 125-79 Accessory apartments in existing single-family residences.”
  • Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

    Individual on-site sewage disposal (septic) systems inside Bedford town limits

    • The Town code contains Chapter 100 Sewage Disposal Systems/On-Site Wastewater Systems (§ 100-1 to § 100-7); its text was not opened.
    • Whether the Westchester County Department of Health or New York State also issues or approves septic permits in Bedford town was not verified on an official page.
    • Patch news coverage describing a Town septic-inspection law was not used as evidence.
    “Beginning on May 1, 2011, the owner of any parcel located within the Town of Bedford which relies upon a separate sewage disposal system/on-site wastewater treatment system for the treatment or modification or ultimate disposal of waterborne sewage or domestic wastes or trade wastes or offensive material, with respect to any building or structure thereon, shall cause an inspection to be performed on said separate sewage disposal system/on-site wastewater treatment system at a minimum frequency of once every five years.”
  • Building in a floodplainLimited

    Development in flood-prone areas inside Bedford town limits

    • Applies to development in flood-prone areas; the flood-damage chapter (Chapter 62) and § 125-46 were not opened, so specific permit requirements are unknown.
    • Wetland development is separately addressed by § 125-47 and Chapter 122.
    “Regulate uses which are dangerous to health, safety and property due to water or erosion hazards or which result in damaging increases in erosion or in flood heights or velocities.”
  • Permit processPublished

    Building permit application process inside Bedford town limits

    • Applications are signed by the owner or authorized agent and must include the information the building inspector requires, including construction documents.
    • Construction documents accepted with an application must be marked as accepted; work may not start until a building permit is issued.
    • Permit fee set in the town board fee schedule is due at submission.
    “applications for a building permit shall be made in writing on a form provided by the building inspector's office”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Bedford or Westchester County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption for owner-occupied homes inside Bedford town limits
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in residential districts inside Bedford town limits
  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot area for single-family districts (R-4A, R-2A, R-1A, R-1/2A, R-1/4A) inside Bedford town limits
  • Setbacks — Yard setbacks in residential districts inside Bedford town limits
  • Lot coverage — Maximum lot coverage in residential districts inside Bedford town limits
14 more unanswered
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • 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 Bedford publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Westchester County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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