Huntington's Building Safety: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles building safety a little differently. In Huntington, New York, there are 7 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Fire Sprinkler Requirements

Huntington's Fire Prevention Code requires automatic sprinkler systems in basements larger than 5,000 square feet used to store combustible goods, and in basement storage or workshop space inside assembly, educational, institutional and residential buildings. The Chief Fire Marshal and Director of Engineering Services enforce the NFPA 13 standard, and a construction permit with plan review is required before an installer can begin work.

Key details: Basement storage trigger: Over 5,000 sq ft of combustible storage. Residential basements: Storage/workshop areas need sprinklers. Governing standard: NFPA Standard 13. Permit fee, 1-25 heads: $425 total. Permit fee, over 250 heads: $925 total.

Under § 111-125, failing to install or maintain a required sprinkler system is punishable by a fine of $500 to $2,000 for a first conviction, $1,000 to $10,000 for a second conviction within five years, and, on a third or later conviction within five years, a misdemeanor carrying $1,500 to $15,000 or up to six months in jail. Each day the violation continues is a separate offense, and the Town's Bureau of Administrative Adjudication can impose a civil penalty within those same ranges instead of pursuing a criminal case.

Electrical Permits

Huntington requires all electrical wiring work in the unincorporated town to follow the National Electrical Code, be inspected by a Board of Fire Underwriters inspector, and be performed only by an electrician licensed through Suffolk County.

Key details: Adopted code: National Electrical Code (NFPA 70). Inspecting authority: NY Board of Fire Underwriters inspectors. Electrician licensing: Suffolk County Plumbing & Electrician Licensing Board. Applies to: Wiring at 50 volts or more. Fine range: $500 to $2,500 per violation/day.

Under § 104-9, it is a violation to install or alter electrical wiring before an inspection application is filed, and a separate violation to connect wiring to a power source before a certificate is issued. Section 104-10 sets the penalty at not less than $500 nor more than $2,500, with each day of continued violation a separate offense, and the Bureau of Administrative Adjudication empowered to impose the same range.

Plumbing Permits

Huntington requires a Town-issued plumbing permit before anyone installs, repairs, services or modifies a plumbing system, medical gas system, gas piping or irrigation system. Working without one is a Chapter 153 violation enforced by the Department of Engineering Services.

Key details: Permit required for: plumbing, medical gas, LP/gas piping, irrigation. Issuing office: Dept. of Engineering Services. Permit term: 1 year, extendable twice. Max total duration: 3 years from issuance. First-offense fine: $250 to $1,500.

A first conviction under § 153-56 carries a fine of $250 to $1,500; a second offense within five years, $750 to $2,500; and a third or subsequent offense within five years, $1,500 to $3,500 or up to 15 days imprisonment, or both. Each day a violation continues is a separate offense, and the Bureau of Administrative Adjudication can impose penalties within the same ranges. The Town Attorney may also pursue civil penalties of up to $500 per day and injunctive relief.

Green Building Code

Commercial and mixed-use construction or major renovation of 4,000 square feet or more in Huntington must achieve a minimum LEED "Certified" rating under Town Code Chapter 197. Applicants register with the U.S. Green Building Council, submit a Green Building Project Checklist, and post a refundable deposit of $1 per square foot, capped at $200,000, before a building permit issues.

Key details: Trigger: Commercial/mixed-use projects of 4,000+ sq ft. Required rating: Minimum LEED "Certified". Deposit fee: $1/sq ft, capped at $200,000. Certification deadline: 25 months after certificate of occupancy. Enforcing officials: Green Building Compliance Officials.

Failing to submit LEED certification proof within twenty-five months of the certificate of occupancy forfeits the entire per-square-foot deposit, up to $200,000, to the Town. Noncompliance discovered during construction can bring a stop-work order under § 87-44, covering the whole project or just the noncompliant portion until the Green Building Compliance Officials confirm the work is back in line with the approved documentation.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Huntington actively enforces its green building code requirements.

Building Permits

In the Town of Huntington, no one may construct, install, alter, repair, move, or demolish a building or structure without a building permit issued by the Department of Engineering Services. Ordinary repairs and detached sheds under 144 square feet are exempt.

Key details: Enforcing agency: Dept. of Engineering Services. Governing section: Town Code § 87-14. Residential minimum fee: $125 + $50 application fee. Permit expiration: One year from issuance. Work before permit: Fee tripled (§ 87-23.F).

Building without a permit is a Chapter 87 violation: the Town issues a stop-work order and triples the permit fee under § 87-23.F, and the Director of Engineering Services may revoke any permit (§ 87-24).

Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Huntington requires carbon monoxide detectors in every residential and residentially used dwelling unit. Section 124-47 places detectors near bedrooms and on each floor with a carbon monoxide source, and makes it unlawful for an owner, occupant or person-in-charge to let one go dead or unmaintained.

Key details: Section: § 124-47, Carbon Monoxide Detectors. Added: 5-3-2011 by L.L. No. 17-2011. Placement: Near bedrooms & each CO source floor. Maintenance duty: Must stay operative at all times. Related sections: § 124-50 smoke alarms, § 124-51 power.

Not installing a required carbon monoxide detector violates Section 124-47(A); missing the required placement near bedrooms or a carbon monoxide source violates Subsection (B); and letting an installed detector go dead, disconnected or otherwise inoperative violates Subsection (C) independently of the installation duty. Any owner, occupant or person-in-charge can be cited, and each is deemed a separate violation of Chapter 124.

Building Inspections

Permit holders in Huntington must give the town 24 hours' advance notice before starting work, and a certificate of occupancy will not issue until the Building Inspector confirms every on-site improvement has actually been inspected and found satisfactory. Both steps run through the Department of Engineering Services.

Key details: Advance notice required: 24 hours before work starts. Notice goes to: Division of Building and Housing. CO condition: Improvements "inspected and found to be satisfactory". First-offense fine (Ch. 87): $250 to $5,000. Temporary CO validity: 3 months, one 3-month extension.

Section 87-45(A) sets the general Chapter 87 penalty: $250 to $5,000 for a first offense, $1,000 to $10,000 for a second offense within five years, and $1,500 to $15,000 for a third or later offense within five years, with each day a violation continues counted as a separate offense. Failing to give the required 24-hour inspection notice is a violation of Article III, and work found to deviate from the approved plans or permit can trigger a stop-work order and permit revocation under § 87-19 and § 87-44 on top of the fine.

The Bottom Line

Huntington's building safety rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Huntington is broadly strict or permissive.

All of the above reflects Huntington's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.