Town of Clarkstown, New York Building Permit Guide

Building permits in the Town of Clarkstown are issued by the Building Department, on the lower level of Clarkstown Town Hall, Room 101, 10 Maple Ave., New City, NY. The office is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

This guide covers the Clarkstown Building Department, its fees and certificates of occupancy, and the Town offices for planning, engineering and road openings. The Town’s building download and highway permit pages could not be read, so the forms and the current Town Board fee resolution were not checked; ask the Building Department for them.

What requires a building permit in the Town of Clarkstown?

A permit is needed to install any permanent or temporary swimming pool, in-ground or above-ground over twenty-four (24) inches deep, and for decks, sheds, heating units and wood stoves. When the application is approved, a permit placard is issued and must be displayed on the job until the work is finished.

Clarkstown does not require fence permits, but the zoning ordinance regulates fences: solid fences and walls cannot exceed 4 1/2 feet along any lot line, and fences cannot exceed six feet unless set back 2/3 of their height from the lot line.

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

Who handles permitting in the Town of Clarkstown?

Road openings and fire permits in the Town of Clarkstown

Road opening permits

Any opening of a Town street, road or sidewalk, including a driveway connection, needs a road opening (excavation) permit from the Superintendent of Highways. Applicants must give utilities at least 72 hours’ written notice and file proof of that notice at least 48 hours before work starts.

Annual fire permits

Under Town Code 143-11, certain occupancies, such as business, mercantile, places of assembly, multiple residences and garages, need an annual Fire Permit, applied for during January for the coming year. Forms and fees are available at (845) 639-2100.

Town of Clarkstown permit costs and fees

Fees are based on the dollar cost of the job: $150.00 for the first $1,000 and $18.00 for each additional $1,000 of cost, or part of it.

Plumbing and electrical work in the Town of Clarkstown

Plumbing work that needs a permit must be done by plumbers licensed and registered by the County of Rockland; an owner-occupant of a single-family home may do their own plumbing with a permit. Electrical work must be done by, or under the supervision of, an electrician licensed by Rockland County, and inspected by an approved third-party electrical inspection agency.

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

How to get a building permit in the Town of Clarkstown

Every permit carries an expiration date set by the Town of Clarkstown, 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 and certificates of occupancy in the Town of Clarkstown

Electrical inspections are applied for through an approved third-party electrical inspection agency. For a certificate of occupancy you need a valid building permit, the final electrical certificate, three copies of the final survey, testing agency reports, certification by the general contractor and a final plumbing inspection. A temporary certificate of occupancy expires in 90 days.

For commercial certificates, the fire inspectors require fire alarm connection to the Rockland County Fire Control Center (44Control), fire alarm and sprinkler certifications, and a Knox box.

Official Town of Clarkstown permitting resources

These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.

• Clarkstown building permits
• Clarkstown building FAQs
• Clarkstown certificates of occupancy
• Clarkstown fire permits
• Clarkstown Planning Department
• Clarkstown Engineering and Facilities Management
• Clarkstown Town Code: street openings

Frequently asked questions

Does a fence need a permit in the Town of Clarkstown?

No. Clarkstown does not require fence permits, but solid fences and walls cannot exceed 4 1/2 feet along any lot line.

Who licenses plumbers working in Clarkstown?

The County of Rockland. Plumbing work that needs a permit must be done by a plumber licensed and registered by the County, unless an owner-occupant of a single-family home does it with a permit.

How long does a temporary certificate of occupancy last in Clarkstown?

It expires in 90 days.

Simplify Town of Clarkstown permitting with Alliance Permitting

• Confirm the Town office for the parcel and the zoning, highway or fire approvals that go with the permit
• Prepare the application, surveys and plans and file them through the Town’s portal or counter
• Schedule the Town’s 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.

This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Town of Clarkstown permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.