Outdoor Air Conditioning Compressors and Emergency Generators require approved permits prior to any installation. See "Forms" for Permit Application Forms. In Single Family Residential Zones they can be located as follows: 1. They can be in the rear yard and no less than twenty feet from any property line. 2. If they are not louder than sixty decibels they can be in a side yard no less than five feet from the side yard lot line and no less than 10 feet from the front exterior wall of the house. 3. They must in either case be no further than three feet from the exterior wall of the house and they must be screened from sight with evergreen bushes or shrubs. See diagram below or download the .pdf diagram AC Units and Generators
Required Standby Generator Signage. A sign is required at the electrical meter shut off switch alerting Fire Department personnel that a standby generator will activate electrical service in a building if electrical service is shut off during an emergency. See NYSDOS Code Clarification:
The minimum permitted fire separation distance between two buildings on different lots or two buildings on the same lot is regulated by the Village Zoning Code and the NYS Building Code. See NYSDOS Code Clarification:
The construction of a Sukkah requires a Building Permit when one or more walls of the Sukkah are formed by a building's wall. The construction of a free standing Sukkah that is not attached to a building does not require a Building Permit. See NYSDOS Code Clarification:
NOTICE TO ALL OWNERS AND MANAGERS OF MULTIPLE FAMILY DWELLING BUILDINGS; In accordance with Title 19 (NYCRR) Chapter XXXIII Section 1261.1 and 1261.2, all owners or managers of multiple dwelling buildings must keep on file within the building a record of all smoke alarms, including the location of each alarm and a record as to when the smoke alarm battery was last replaced with a new battery. It is the responsibility of the owner or manager to replace smoke alarm batteries every time an apartment is vacated. These records must be made readily available to Code Enforcement Officers at all times.
IMPORTANT NOTICE Two changes to the Village Code were adopted recently. Chapter 492 Subsurface Investigation and Section 575-155 Parking in Residential Districts. An online version of the Village Code can be accessed on the Village Website: www.greatneckvillage.org. For a complete understanding of the changes please refer to the Village Code. Below is a brief overview of the changes: Chapter 492 Subsurface Investigation; Any increase of impervious surface area such as new structures, additions or any type of paving other than approved permeable paving systems in any part of the Village other than the flood prone area, greater than 200 square feet but less than 500 square feet must be approved by the Building Inspector. A site drainage design providing the required storm water retention and recharge will be required for a Building Permit. An approved Building Permit is required prior to commencing any work. Any impervious surface area increase of 200 square feet in the Flood Prone Area or an increase of 500 square feet in any other part of the Village requires that the Village Engineer approve the Site Drainage Design before any work can commence. Section 575-155 Parking in Residential Districts was amended as well. New homes must provide a minimum of three off street parking spaces or one vehicle for every bedroom or one vehicle for the first 1,000 square feet of floor area and one additional parking space for each additional 500 square feet of floor area, whichever of the above is greater. Existing homes that provide for less amounts of parking spaces require additional parking spaces if the homeowner proposes to increase the floor area by 1,000 square feet or increase the floor area in excess of 50% of the existing floor area. In addition no alterations to a home are permitted that reduce the number of existing off street parking spaces if the number of existing parking spaces are equal to or less than the required amount of off street parking spaces.
In Memory of Ken Pretto We will miss Ken dearly, he
was a dedicated Code Enforcement Officer and an Alert Volunteer Fire
Fighter. No matter what day nor what time Ken was always on duty, ready
to help someone.
FENCES A reminder about fences. If you plan to install or build one, a Building Permit is required. Fences on Residential lots cannot exceed four feet in height and cannot be placed in a front yard. If a portion of your property adjoins another lot that is not a single family lot then a six foot fence can be installed on that portion only, with a Building Permit. You cannot obtain a Building Permit to build a fence on your neighbors property, when you file an application for a Building Permit for a fence you must include an accurate survey and indicate on the survey where you plan to construct the fence, how high will the fence be and how long. The attractive or finished side of the fence must face your neighbors property. Upon completion of the fence construction you may be asked by the Building Department to provide an original updated survey, signed and sealed by a NYS Land Surveyor. The survey must indicate that the entire fence is on your property only.
Effective January 1st, 2010 the Village of Great Neck Building Department shall require all construction plans and specifications to comply with the new 2010 NYS Building Codes. The most dramatic changes to the Building Code can be found in the Residential Building Code Chapter 11Energy Efficiency and the NYS Energy Conservation Construction Code. Architects, Engineers and Contractors are advised to study these codes prior to submitting applications for Building Permits so as to avoid Building Permit Application delays.
Cell Towers on Existing and Proposed Buildings Cell Towers unlike cooling towers on building rooftops must be designed such that the buildings structural system that anchors the cellular transmission equipment be constructed to resist twice the wind load requirements for that particular region. The wind load design in Nassau County is a 110 mph 3 second wind gust measured 33 feet above grade or a continuous sustained wind of 90 mph. Chapter One of the NYS Building Code provides that this is only applicable to radio, television and cellular equipment attached to buildings. Freestanding Cell Towers need only comply with the lesser standards published by the Telecommunications Industry Association. Applicants seeking Building Permits for the installation of rooftop cellular transmission towers should review the provisions of Section 3108 of the NYS Building Code.
Temporary Building Permit applications for Storm Related Repair and Reconstruction Work have been extended to the end of October 2010.
If you have questions concerning electrical service please contact LIPA at 1-800-490-0075.
Anyone seeking to repair their home from minor damage caused by the storm can do so after they have completed and filed the "Temporary Building Permit Application" which will only be valid for 60 days, you may download the application form below. The fee for a Temporary Building Permit is $150.00. You will need to attach photographs of the property damage in order to receive approval before commencing any repair work. Please read the application very carefully.
Anyone seeking to repair or reconstruct substantial structural damage can do so after they have filed an application with the Building Department for a standard building permit application. The application fee will be reduced by 50% for any and all proposed work specifically limited to the damage caused by the storm. Applications will receive the highest priority for review and comment or approval.
If you are not certain as to whether the damage is minor or substantial structural damage please consult with one of our Building Inspectors.
If a Village owned tree has fallen on your property please be patient and the Village will remove that tree.
If a tree on your property has fallen the property owner is required to remove that tree.
If you are not certain whether a fallen tree is a Village owned tree please refer to your property survey. If you do not have a survey you may visit the Building Department and file a "Freedom of Information Law" application to review your property file to see if a survey is on file.
If your neighbors tree has fallen on your property you should seek consultation with your Attorney.
The Village of Great Neck by Law cannot remove trees that are not Village owned trees.
Window, Door, Roof Shingles, Paving and Siding "Direct Replacements" do not require a Building Permit. Direct replacement of windows, doors, paving and roofing is replacing existing with new without enlarging or reducing size of windows, doors, paving or roof. Direct Replacement of siding is replacing siding with new siding that is the same material. However if during the course of direct replacement rotted sheathing or framing needs to be replaced a Building Permit is needed. Click this pdf link for New York State Residential Code requirements:
For a summary of some of the most common Village Code requirements "CLICK HERE"
On April 22nd the EPA will require that all home improvement contractors, property management firms, handymen or others compensated for renovation that disturb more than 6 sq ft (interior) and 20 sq ft (exterior) of paint or surface coating in pre-1978 housing where a child resides or is expected to reside, complete training, use safe work practices and verify that the work area is clean after completion of renovations. Renovation firms must have at least one Certified Renovator and obtain firm certification from the EPA.
Side Yard AC units no longer require variance approvals from Board of Zoning and Appeals. However, to install or maintain a side yard AC unit approval from the ARC at a public hearing is required.
Engineered Design: At the discretion of the Building Department Superintendent any proposed design that is not considered a prescriptive design shall be deemed an Engineered Design. All proposed Engineered Designs will require approved from the village engineer.
The following information and forms are provided to assist in the application of a Building Permit. These documents are to be regarded as purely advisory and no representation is made to their accuracy or completeness. To ensure a comprehensive review, refer directly to the Great Neck Village Code and the NYS Uniform Fire Prevention, Building and Energy Conservation Construction Code and other applicable laws, codes, rules and regulations.Our goal is to: provide an information center where you'll be able to download all Building Department forms provide answers to frequently asked questions provide guidance before, during and after permit applications provide sample documents for viewing provide a calendar board with filing deadlines and dates of review boards provide photographs of old Great Neck Village and recently built homes that follow the examples of those in the past that made this village a great place to live and raise a family.
