Ulster County, NY Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)

Building permits required. Except as otherwise provided in Subsection B of this section, a building permit shall be required for any work which must conform to the Uniform Code and/or the Energy Code, including, but not limited to, the construction, enlargement, alteration, improvement, removal, relocation or demolition of any building or structure or any portion thereof, and the installation of a solid fuel burning heating appliance, chimney or flue in any dwelling unit. No person shall commence any work for which a building permit is required without first having obtained a building permit from the Code Enforcement Officer. Building permits for properly opted out localities shall be applied for and obtained through the Environmental Sanitation Division of the Ulster County Department of Health. Building permits with respect to buildings, premises and equipment in the custody of, or activities related thereto, undertaken by the County of Ulster, shall be applied for and obtained through the Ulster County Safety Department.

B. Exemptions. No building permit shall be required for work in any of the following categories:

(1) Construction of temporary sets and scenery associated with motion picture, television and theater uses;

(2) Installation of window awnings supported by an exterior wall of a one- or two-family dwelling or multiple single-family dwellings (townhouses);

(3) Installation of partitions or movable cases less than five feet nine inches in height;