Ramapo, NY Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)

Town Code § 376-144 requires a building permit for the construction, reconstruction, moving, demolition, structural alteration or change in use of a building or structure, and for any change in the bulk of a building, structure or nonbuilding use. Ordinary repairs are exempt only if they do not involve removing or cutting a load-bearing wall, partition or structural beam; removing or changing a required means of egress; enlarging, altering, replacing or relocating a building system; or taking a fire protection system out of service, per § 376-144B.

Under § 376-145, applications go to the Building Inspector on the Town's forms and must include a Tax Map description of the parcel, the proposed use, the valuation of the work, the owner's and applicant's names and addresses, plans and specifications bearing the seal of a licensed architect or engineer, and a fee under the Standard Schedule of Fees. The Building Inspector must approve or disapprove within one month of receiving a complete application, and one set of approved plans must stay on site during construction.

Section 376-146 sets every permit to expire two years from issuance; if work has started but is unfinished, the holder may get a one-year extension from the Building Inspector for half the original fee, and a second one-year extension for a quarter of the fee. If work never started, the Board of Appeals can grant a one-year extension for half the fee. Section 376-147 lets the Building Inspector revoke a permit for false statements, permit issued in error, failure to follow an approved site plan, work that departs from the approved plans, or ignoring a stop-work order issued under § 376-148.

No building permit or certificate of occupancy may issue unless the work conforms to this chapter, the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code and the State Energy Conservation Construction Code, per § 376-142.