The St. Lawrence County Seat

Town Code Enforcement Office

Michael McQuade, Town Code Enforcement Officer
Phone: 315-714-3659 (Office); 315-244-0600 (Cell)
[email protected]

Building Permit Requirements

The following information is taken directly from the NYS 2020 Building Code and the NYS 2020 Residential Code Book. As all Building season begins, I have had several calls, and several projects start prior to a Building Permit being issued in the Town of Canton. As well there are exemptions to this Code. If any resident needs to know these, please contact me directly. My office is located at 60 Main Street, I can be reached by cell phone 315-244-0600 or office phone 315-386-2871 ext. 9208.If any owner or owner’s authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert, or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical, or pluming system, the installation of which is regulated by this code, or to cause any such work to be performed, shall first make application to the building official and obtain the required permit. New roof coverings shall not be installed without first removing all existing layers of roof coverings down to the roof deck where any of the following conditions occur:
a. where the existing roof or roof covering is water soaked or has deteriorated to the point that the existing roof or roof covering is not adequate as a                              base for additional roofing.
b. where the existing  roof covering is wood shake, slate, clay cement, or asbestos-cement tile.
c. where the existing roof has two or more applications of any type of roof covering.

This code is intended to provide minimum requirements to safeguard public safety, health, and general welfare through structural strength, means of egress facilities, stability, sanitation, adequate light and ventilation, energy conservation and safety  to life and property from fire and other hazards attributed to the built environment.

No change shall be made in the use or occupancy of any structure that would place the structure in a different division of the same group or occupancy or in a different group of occupancies, unless such structure is made to comply with the requirements of the Existing Building Code of New York State.

Also, there was a revision made that work without permit shall be punishable by a fine of not less than Fifty & 00/100 Dollars ($50.00) and not more than Five Hundred & 00/100 Dollars ($500.00). Each day that violation continues, it shall be deemed a separate offense. Any person removing any notice provided for herein and found guilty thereof shall be fined a sum not exceeding One Hundred Dollars & 00/100 ($100.00) for each offense as an extra fee for individuals or contractors that begin their respected projects without building permit.

Building Permit Applications
Application
Citizen Portal
Building Permit Fees
Residential Application Checklist
Occupancy Requirements
Zoning Map

Building Guides 
IRC Building Guide Single-Family Dwelling
Decks & Porches
Garage
Home Additions
Pole Barns
Lumber Mill Certificate
2018-IRC-Patio-Covers-Carports-Guide

Planning/Zoning
Zoning Code
Zoning Map
Solar Information
Planning Board Application
Area Variance Application
Use Variance Application
Interpretation Application
Long EAF
Short EAF