Hamburg Village, NY Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)

Village of Hamburg Code § 123-4A requires a building permit for any work that must conform to the Uniform Code or the Energy Code, including the construction, enlargement, alteration, improvement, removal, relocation, or demolition of a building or structure or any portion of one. Installing a solid-fuel-burning heating appliance, chimney, or flue in any dwelling unit also needs a permit. No one can start work without first obtaining the permit from the Village of Hamburg. Section 123-4B lists three exemptions, and § 123-4C adds that an exemption is never authorization to do work that violates the Uniform Code or the Energy Code.

The application goes in writing on a form the Code Enforcement Officer provides or accepts, signed by the owner or an authorized agent (§ 123-4D). It must give the Tax Map number, the street address, the occupancy classification, and a description of the location, nature, extent, and scope of the work, together with at least two sets of construction documents. Those documents include a site plan drawn to scale from an accurate boundary survey, and evidence that a licensed architect or professional engineer prepared them. Accepted documents are marked and one set stays at the work site, but § 123-4E states that returning a set is not authorization to start work.

The Code Enforcement Officer issues the permit if the work complies with the Uniform Code and the Energy Code (§ 123-4F). The permit must be visibly displayed at the work site until the work is finished (§ 123-4G). Changes during construction go to the Code Enforcement Officer immediately, and a new or amended permit is required if the officer decides the change warrants one (§ 123-4H). Under § 123-4I a permit becomes invalid unless the authorized work starts within six months of issuance, unless Code Enforcement specifically authorizes otherwise, and it expires 12 months after issuance. An invalid or expired permit can be renewed on application, payment of the fee, and approval. Fees are set under § 123-18 and are due when the application, amendment, or renewal is submitted (§ 123-4K). Under § 123-3A, code enforcement for the Village comes from the Town of Hamburg Building Inspection Department's Code Enforcement Officer under a shared services agreement, unless the Village designates its own official.