The Town of Amherst Building Department, 5583 Main St, Williamsville, NY 14221, phone (716) 631-7080, is open 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Monday to Friday. Its Commissioner of Building issues the permits. The town recommends its online portal, which needs a registered user account; mail filing is accepted, and in-person applications may need an appointment and can cause delays.
This guide covers the Amherst Building Department, its 2025 Building Permit Fees (8/4/2025), its trade divisions and the Planning and Highway offices. The town’s inspection-scheduling instructions could not be opened, so ask the Building Department how to book inspections.
What requires a building permit in the Town of Amherst?
The 2025 fee schedule prices new single dwellings, alterations, additions and repairs, nonresidential and multiple-dwelling work, decks, re-roofing, siding replacement, above-ground and in-ground pools, plumbing and floodplain development.
The Building Permit Application form asks for three sets of plans, three plot plans with flood plain information, Energy Code calculations, a geotechnical analysis with a soil bearing test, and, for new residential buildings, a Highway Department curb cut permit.
New York builds on one statewide code, the Uniform Code, outside New York City; the 2025 edition and 2025 Energy Code took effect on 31 December 2025 (the all-electric provisions remain suspended by court order). Cities, towns and villages administer it, and local standards stricter than the code need Code Council approval. The Uniform Code in New York
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →Who handles permitting in the Town of Amherst?
| Office | Handles | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Building Department | Building permits from the Commissioner of Building; 5583 Main St; 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Monday to Friday | (716) 631-7080 |
| Plumbing Division | Plumbing; office hours 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM, Monday to Friday | (716) 631-7090 |
| Electrical Division | Electrical; office hours 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM, Monday to Friday | Building Department |
| Planning Department | Planning and Zoning Board applications; lower floor of Town Hall, 5583 Main Street; 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Monday through Friday | (716) 631-7051 |
| Superintendent of Highways | Curb cuts and driveway culverts on town roads; 1042 North Forest Rd. | (716) 631-7117 |
Village of Williamsville
The Village of Williamsville, which Census places inside the Town of Amherst, runs its own Building Department, which reviews building permit applications against the Village of Williamsville code. Its office is open 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8:00 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Fridays; appointments at 716-632-7747. Census counts 5462 people in the Amherst part of the village and 124980 in the balance of the town.
Floodplains, curb cuts and permit time limits in Amherst
Floodplain development
The Building Department enforces flood damage prevention under Chapter 203 Part VII of the zoning ordinance. A Floodplain Development Permit is $300.00 for the first acre or less and $150.00 for each additional acre.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Curb cuts and driveway culverts
On town roads the permit comes from the Superintendent of Highways at no cost to the resident. County highways are (716) 759-8328 north of Main St. and (716) 683-4272 south of Main St.; state highways go to the NYSDOT Regional Permit Engineer at (716) 847-3272.
Time limits under Chapter 83
A permit expires unless work begins within six months of issue (two months for demolition), and work must be completed within two years of starting.
Planning and Zoning Board fees
These are paid by personal check or money order at the Town Clerk’s Office.
Town of Amherst permit costs and fees
A non-refundable filing fee of one-half of the permit fee is paid when the application is filed and credited against the final fee. Fees are based on construction cost, valued at no less than the ICC Building Valuation Data figure.
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| New single dwelling, up to 1,000 sq. ft. | $950.00 |
| 1,000 to 3,000 sq. ft. | $1,150.00 |
| 3,000 to 5,000 sq. ft. | $1,500.00 |
| Over 5,000 sq. ft. | $2,000.00 |
| Alterations, additions and repairs, one- and two-family | $100.00 for the first $1,000.00 of cost, plus $9.00 per $1,000.00 |
| Nonresidential and multiple dwellings | $500.00 base (includes 20 inspections), plus $18.00 per $1,000 of cost; $75.00 per inspection beyond 20 |
| Decks | $80.00 for the first $1,000.00 of cost, plus $10.00 per additional $1,000.00 |
| Residential re-roof | $75.00 |
| Residential siding | $50.00 |
| Above-ground pool / in-ground pool | $250.00 / $450.00 |
| Residential certificate of occupancy | $250.00 |
| Each inspection beyond two for a required inspection | $100.00 |
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Building Permit Fees in the TNB District are reduced 50%. Work started without a permit carries a penalty fee of $200.00 minimum or 2x the permit fee, whichever is greater.
Plumbing and electrical licensing in Amherst
Plumbers working in Amherst must be licensed by the town. Amherst registers home improvement contractors and keeps its own lists of licensed master electricians, residential electricians, master plumbers and sewer contractors; its Board of Electrician Examiners examines and certifies master electricians.
Plumbing for a new one- or two-family home is $525.00 for 1 to 2 bathrooms, $600.00 for 2-1/2 to 3-1/2 bathrooms and $700.00 for 4 or more.
Where a municipality issues separate trade permits, the work is done under whatever electrical or plumbing licence that city, town or county requires; many places license neither trade. Trade licences in New York
Rather not deal with the building department?
Get a free quote →How to get a building permit in the Town of Amherst
In the Village of Williamsville, the village Building Department reviews the application.
Plans, plot plans with flood plain information, Energy Code calculations, a geotechnical analysis and, for a new home, a curb cut permit.
Use Amherst Permits, Inspections & Inquiries with a registered account, or apply by mail or in person.
One-half of the permit fee, non-refundable, credited against the final fee.
Begin within six months of issue, or two months for demolition.
Every permit carries an expiration date set by the Town of Amherst, which may void a permit if work does not start in time; confirm the expiry on phased or delayed work. Permit validity in New York
Inspections in the Town of Amherst
Amherst’s commercial inspection handout says to notify the inspector at least 24 hours in advance and that no work may be concealed until inspected; failing to request inspections results in a stop work order. No work may go above the foundation until a foundation survey is approved by the Building Department.
Official Town of Amherst permitting resources
These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →- Town of Amherst Building Department
- Amherst online permit applications
- Amherst 2025 Building Permit Fees
- Amherst Building Permit Application
- Amherst permit requirements (Chapter 83)
- Amherst required commercial inspections
- Amherst Planning Department
- Village of Williamsville Building Department
Frequently asked questions
Is the Amherst filing fee refundable?
No. The filing fee is one-half of the permit fee, paid with the application and credited against the final fee.
Who issues permits in Williamsville?
The Village of Williamsville runs its own Building Department; appointments at 716-632-7747.
Does a curb cut on a town road cost anything in Amherst?
No. The town curb cut permit from the Superintendent of Highways is at no cost to the resident.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
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- Confirm which office permits the parcel and the zoning, highway or health approvals that go with the permit
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- Schedule the required inspections and follow the permit through to the certificate of occupancy
Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in New York. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.
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More New York permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Town of Amherst permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.