Frequently Asked Questions

Code Enforcement Office Hours are Monday-Friday 8:00am-10:00am and 3:00pm -3:45pm.

In some cases, the business needs to have a site plan review by the Planning Board. In other cases, a Building Permit will be required and a Certificate of Occupancy will be issued. All new businesses will require a fire inspection before opening.

Yes, all commercial buildings are inspected every three years and all places of assembly every year.

Yes, all dwelling units are required to have a carbon monoxide alarm and by June 2016 all commercial buildings must have a carbon monoxide alarm installed.

All reroofing including shingle layover must have building permits.

No, cannot be used on combustible balconies or decks. Cylinders greater than 21/2 pounds. cannot be stored on balconies. All cooking must be at least 10 feet from the building.

Yes, The Property Maintenance Code of New York State requires smoke detectors at all of the following locations:

• On each ceiling or wall outside each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of bedrooms.
• In each room is used for sleeping purposes.
• In each story within a dwelling unit, including basements and cellars but not including crawl spaces and unoccupied attics.

Yes, but by permit only and not for more than 30 consecutive days in any calendar year.

Yes, but only in a mobile home park.

Yes, with permit that is issued by Town Clerk.

No, must be licensed, registered, and operable. Cannot be tarped but can be stored inside a garage without a proper license.

Yes, buildings shall have approved address numbers placed in a position to be plainly legible and visible from the street or road fronting the property. These numbers shall contrast with their background. Address numbers shall be Arabic numbers or alphabetic numbers. Numbers shall be a minimum of 4 inches high with a minimum stroke width of 0.5 inches.

Tents and membrane structures having an area in excess of 200 square feet and canopies in excess of 400 square feet shall not be erected, operated, or maintained for any purpose without approval from the code enforcement office.

Exceptions 

• Tents are exclusively used for recreational camping purposes. 
• Fabric canopies and awnings open on all sides with a maximum size of 700 square feet, multiple canopies adding up to 700 square feet without fire breaks of 12 feet to all structures, and a minimum of 12 feet to all structures and tents.

All tents and canopies cannot be erected for more than 180 days in a 12-month period.

Bonfires and recreational fires are regulated by the Fire Code of New York State. A recreational or bonfire cannot be more than 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet in height. Any open fire that will be offensive or objectionable due to smoke or odor emissions when atmospheric conditions or local circumstances make such fires hazardous shall be prohibited.

No, there is no open burning in the Town and Village of Horseheads. This also includes burning in a rubbish barrel.

Zoning regulates the use of land within its boundaries. The zoning regulations have different zoning districts with each district having different permitted uses and requirements. The purpose is to:

• Promote the health, safety, and general welfare of the community
• Reduce congestion on the streets and highways
• Ensure safety from fire, panic, and other dangers
• Provide adequate light and air
• Prevent overcrowding of land and avoid undue concentration of population
• Establish zones wherein regulations concerning the land and structures, the density of development, the size of yards, the percentage of lots that may be occupied and the provisions of parking will be set forth to encourage the most appropriate development

Residential

• Siding
• Replacement windows
• Non-structural necessary repairs
• Fences that meet zoning requirements

Commercial

Check with the office at 607-739-7605.

New York State and Town of Horseheads laws mandate when a permit is required. The following is to use as a guideline.

Residential

• New construction of homes, garages, and carports
• Addition and alterations of buildings
• Storage buildings 120square feet and over, including prefabricated buildings delivered to the site
• Decks and porches
• Deck refinishing, hand rails, and stairs
• Enclosing porches, decks
• Extending roofs over decks and porches
• Rebuilding and structural renovations
• Swimming pools above and in-ground including decks around pools - Installation of woodstoves, fireplaces, and chimneys
• Demolition and removal of buildings

Commercial

• New construction
• Most improvements, alterations, enlargements, repairs, and changes of tenants
• Signs, including temporary signs
• Change of Occupancy

You can send an application to:

Town of Horseheads
150 Wygant Road
Horseheads, NY 14845

You can also call 607-739-8783 to see if there is an opening. Some of the jobs require you to take a Civil Service Test. You can check Chumeng County Civil Service Examination Calendar for more information. 

A final inspection must be performed and any required paperwork (electrical inspection, pre-engineered truss certification, etc) must be on file with the Code Enforcement Officer.

Yes, all inspections are performed by a third-party agency. A list of agencies will be on the building permit card when a permit is issued.

During construction inspection of footers, foundation, framing, insulation, plumbing, and a final inspection to close out a permit is required. A list of inspections will be given when a permit is issued.

A permit is good for one year from the date of issue and can be renewed for six months upon payment of a fee.

If all documentation is received and insurance papers are in order usually within a day or two. However, new construction, major additions, and other permits could take up to two weeks depending on workload.

Contractors who have employees must provide their liability insurance, typically on an Accord form.  Contractors must also provide proof of their Workman's Compensation insurance, typically on a C105 form or a U-26.3 form.  Contractors must also provide their proof of Disability Benefits insurance, typically on a DB120 form.  Those insurance certificates need to have the certificate holder listed as the Town of Horseheads. If a contractor is a sole proprietor, and does not have any employees, then that contractor must provide their proof of liability insurance and a CE-200 form.

Homeowners who are choosing to do their own work, or are not hiring or paying anyone to do the work, must provide our office with a CE-200.