101 local rules on file · Pop. 2,605 · Erie County
Showing ordinances that apply to Clarence Center, NY
Clarence Center is an unincorporated community with a population of approximately 2,605 in Erie County, New York. Because Clarence Center is not an incorporated city, it does not have its own municipal government or city code. Instead, Erie County ordinances apply directly to residential and commercial properties here. The rules below are the county-level regulations that govern your area. Nearby incorporated cities in Erie County may have different rules.
Erie County issues permits only for public and semi-public swimming pools under NY State Sanitary Code Subpart 6-1. Private backyard pools are not county-permitted; those get a building permit from your town or city building department instead.
Residential pool safety in Erie County is governed by the New York State Uniform Code, which requires barriers, alarms, and safety covers. Public pools additionally meet Subpart 6-1 supervision and water-quality standards enforced by the county health department.
Residential pool fencing in Erie County follows the New York State Uniform Code, not a county rule. A barrier at least 48 inches high must fully enclose the pool, enforced by your local town or city building department.
Above-ground pools in Erie County follow the New York State Uniform Code. A pool wall at least 48 inches high can serve as the barrier if the ladder or steps are removable or lockable, enforced by your local building department.
Hot tubs and spas in Erie County follow the New York State Uniform Code. A lockable safety cover meeting ASTM F1346 satisfies the barrier requirement, so a separate fence is not needed. Rules are enforced by your local building department.
Erie County does not issue short-term-rental permits. In New York, STR permitting and land use are town and city matters, so your local municipality (Buffalo, Amherst, and others) controls whether a permit is required.
Erie County imposes no countywide guest or occupancy limit on short-term rentals. Occupancy caps, if any, are set by your town or city zoning and the applicable New York building and fire codes.
Erie County levies a hotel occupancy (bed) tax of 3% on lodging with 30 or fewer rooms, including short-term rentals, and 5% on lodging with more than 30 rooms, on stays under 30 consecutive days.
Erie County does not set noise limits specific to short-term rentals. Noise at rentals is governed by town and city noise ordinances and the state and local peace laws, not by the County.
Erie County does not require a host to be present during a short-term-rental stay. Any host-presence or local-contact rule comes from town and city licensing, not the County.
Erie County has no land-use registration for short-term rentals, but every STR operator must file a Certificate of Registration with the Erie County Comptroller within three days of opening for hotel occupancy tax purposes.
Erie County has no countywide parking requirement for short-term rentals. Off-street parking standards for rentals are governed by town and city zoning codes, not by the County.
Erie County does not require a short-term rental to be the operator's primary residence. Owner-occupancy rules are set by town and city codes, and some, like Buffalo, distinguish owner-occupied from non-owner-occupied rentals.
Erie County imposes no cap on the number of nights a short-term rental may operate. The occupancy tax applies to stays under 30 consecutive days, and any night limit comes from town or city rules.
Erie County does not require short-term-rental operators to carry specific liability insurance. Any insurance requirement comes from town or city licensing codes, not from the County occupancy-tax law.
Erie County, New York has no countywide quiet-hours noise ordinance. Quiet hours and general noise are set by each town, city, or village, such as Buffalo, Cheektowaga, and Amherst. County Sheriff deputies enforce New York Penal Law disorderly-conduct noise rules in unincorporated areas.
Erie County, New York has no countywide barking-dog noise law. Nuisance barking is handled by each town or city dog-control ordinance adopted under New York Agriculture and Markets Law Article 7. Local dog control officers, not the county, investigate persistent barking complaints.
Erie County, New York has no countywide amplified-music ordinance. Loudspeakers, stereos, and PA systems are regulated by each town or city noise code, such as Buffalo Chapter 293 or Cheektowaga Chapter 166. The Sheriff can also enforce New York Penal Law unreasonable-noise rules in unincorporated areas.
Erie County, New York does not set construction-hour limits. Allowed construction times are fixed by each town, city, or village noise or building code, such as Buffalo Chapter 293 or Cheektowaga Chapter 166. There is no countywide construction-noise ordinance for unincorporated areas.
Erie County, New York has no countywide leaf-blower ordinance and no gas-blower ban. Any leaf-blower time limits come from your town, city, or village noise code, such as Buffalo Chapter 293 or Cheektowaga Chapter 166. New York State does not ban gas leaf blowers.
Erie County, New York has no countywide vehicle-noise ordinance. Loud vehicles and modified exhausts are governed statewide by New York Vehicle and Traffic Law, enforced by the Erie County Sheriff and local police. The SLEEP Act raised muffler-tampering fines to as much as $1,000.
Erie County, New York sets no countywide decibel limits. Any dBA thresholds come from a town or city noise code, and New York's only fixed decibel caps apply to vehicles under Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 386. The county's disorderly-conduct backstop uses a reasonableness test, not decibels.
Erie County, New York has no countywide industrial-noise ordinance. Factory, plant, and commercial noise is controlled through municipal zoning and noise codes, plus New York State environmental permitting for regulated facilities. The county sets no general industrial decibel standard.
Erie County, New York has no countywide outdoor-music ordinance. Live and amplified outdoor music is regulated by each town or city, usually through a noise code plus a special-event or assembly permit. County parks may set their own event conditions for gatherings on county land.
Erie County, New York does not regulate aircraft noise, which is preempted by the Federal Aviation Administration. Buffalo Niagara International Airport, run by the NFTA in Cheektowaga, addresses noise through an FAA Part 150 program and the completed Quieter Home Program, not a county ordinance.
Consumer fireworks are illegal statewide under NY Penal Law 270.00, but sparkling devices are legal in Erie County because the county has not opted out. Aerial and explosive fireworks remain banned everywhere.
New York bans residential brush burning statewide from March 16 through May 14, and burning trash is illegal year-round. Erie County follows these DEC rules; larger towns cannot burn brush at all.
Small recreational fire pits are allowed under NY DEC rules if they burn only clean, untreated wood or charcoal and stay under three feet high and four feet across. Towns and the City of Buffalo may add stricter local requirements.
Erie County has no wildfire-driven defensible-space mandate like western states. Brush and weed control is handled locally as a property-maintenance and nuisance matter by towns and the City of Buffalo.
New York's Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code and Amanda's Law require working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in homes statewide. Erie County towns and the City of Buffalo enforce these rules locally.
Erie County has no designated wildfire hazard zones. New York's humid, lake-effect climate means there is no CAL-FIRE-style mapping or defensible-space requirement here, unlike western states.
Small recreational backyard fires are legal under DEC rules if kept under three feet high and four feet across and fueled only by clean wood or charcoal. Trash and brush burning are separately restricted or banned.
Propane storage in Erie County follows the New York State Fire Code, which sets limits on cylinder size and placement at homes. There is no separate countywide propane ordinance; towns and Buffalo enforce the state code.
Erie County has no countywide RV or boat parking ordinance for private property or streets; those rules are set by your town, city, or village. The county's only direct rule governs RVs and trailers within Erie County Parks campgrounds.
Erie County has no countywide overnight on-street parking ban. Overnight parking and winter snow-emergency parking bans are set by each town, city, and village. The county's overnight rule applies only inside its parks, which close at night.
Abandoned vehicles in Erie County are governed by New York Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 1224, which defines abandonment and gives custody to the town, city, or village. A county may act as agent for removal and disposal only if authorized by state regulation.
On-street parking in Erie County is regulated by each town, city, and village and by New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law, not by county government. Erie County maintains county highways but does not set the parking rules along them.
Residential and on-street commercial-vehicle parking limits in Erie County are set by each town, city, and village, not the county. Erie County only restricts commercial vehicles during major snow emergencies and within its parks.
Erie County has no countywide driveway parking ordinance. Rules on parking in your driveway, driveway setbacks, surfacing, and curb cuts are set by your town, city, or village, with driveway permits along county roads handled by the county DPW.
Erie County has no countywide ordinance restricting electric-vehicle charging or reserving EV parking spaces on public streets. EV-station siting and any parking-space reservations are handled by municipalities and New York State building and energy codes.
Erie County does not set residential oversized-vehicle parking limits; those are municipal. New York State regulates vehicle size and weight on highways, and Erie County DPW issues oversize or overweight travel permits for county roads and bridges.
Loading zones in Erie County are designated and enforced by each town, city, and village, not by the county. Under New York Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 1660, municipalities set standing and loading restrictions on their streets and county roads.
Erie County does not set curb-color or curb-marking parking rules. Painted-curb meanings and any restrictions on marking curbs are established by each town, city, and village and enforced with New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law.
Erie County has no countywide fence-height ordinance. Fence height is a zoning matter set entirely by your city, town, or village. Rules commonly cap residential fences at 6 feet, with lower limits in front yards.
Erie County has no countywide fence or boundary-line law. Neighbor issues fall under your municipality's zoning code plus New York State civil law, including the Spite Fence and RPAPL boundary rules. Check your town or village code first.
Erie County issues no fence permits; permitting is handled by your city, town, or village building department. Many Erie County municipalities require a building or zoning permit before installing a fence.
Erie County has no countywide retaining-wall ordinance. Retaining walls are regulated by your city, town, or village, often through the building code and zoning. Taller walls typically need a permit and engineered drawings.
Erie County imposes no countywide fence-material rules. Any restrictions on materials such as barbed wire, electric, or chain-link fencing come from your city, town, or village zoning code. Check your municipality.
Erie County sets no countywide fence standards. Requirements for placement, height, corner-visibility, and permits come from your city, town, or village zoning code. Standards vary widely, so check your municipality first.
Erie County has no countywide rules on fence materials or appearance. Allowed materials, finished-side orientation, and any prohibited types are set by your city, town, or village zoning code. Verify with your municipality.
Erie County does not run a countywide leash law. Dog licensing, leashing, running-at-large, and dangerous-dog control are administered by each town, city, and village under New York Agriculture and Markets Law Article 7, while the county's role is limited to rabies and animal-bite investigation.
Erie County has no countywide chicken or livestock ordinance. Whether backyard hens, roosters, goats, or other livestock are allowed is decided by each town, city, or village zoning code, so rules differ across Buffalo, Amherst, Hamburg, Clarence, and other Erie County municipalities.
Erie County sets no countywide beekeeping ordinance. Hive placement and colony limits are decided by each town, city, or village zoning code, while New York State registration of apiaries is handled by the Department of Agriculture and Markets, not the county.
No Erie County municipality may ban dogs by breed. New York Agriculture and Markets Law Section 107(5) bars any local dangerous-dog program from regulating dogs in a manner specific as to breed, so pit bulls and other breeds cannot be prohibited anywhere in the county.
Erie County has no separate exotic-pet ordinance because New York State law controls. Environmental Conservation Law Section 11-0512 bans keeping wild animals as pets and requires a state permit for wolves, big cats, venomous reptiles, and other dangerous wildlife.
Erie County sets no numeric limit on household pets. Any cap on the number of dogs or cats comes from a town, city, or village ordinance, while state law requires each dog four months or older to be licensed locally.
Animal hoarding in Erie County is investigated by the SPCA Serving Erie County and prosecuted as cruelty by the Erie County District Attorney's Animal Cruelty Unit under New York's Agriculture and Markets Law, working with city and town animal control officers.
Erie County imposes no countywide livestock ordinance. Keeping cattle, horses, goats, pigs, or other farm animals is controlled by each town, city, or village zoning code, so allowed animals, lot sizes, and setbacks vary across the county.
Erie County does not license cats, but New York law requires every cat to be rabies-vaccinated, and the county Health Department runs free rabies clinics for cats. Stray, cruelty, and abandonment complaints go to the SPCA Serving Erie County.
The Erie County Department of Health treats improper bird and wildlife feeding as a rodent attractant and public-health nuisance and investigates complaints about it, alongside poorly stored garbage and uncollected dog waste.
Erie County government sets no grass-height limit. In New York, overgrown-grass rules are municipal (town, village, city) property-maintenance matters, backed by the statewide NY Property Maintenance Code, which caps weeds and grass at 10 inches. Your town or village enforces it, not the county.
Erie County government has no private tree-trimming ordinance. In New York, tree pruning and street-tree rules are set by individual towns, villages, and cities. Erie County's role is advisory, through Cornell Cooperative Extension and the Soil & Water Conservation District, not regulatory.
Erie County government does not require a permit to remove trees on private property. New York has no statewide private-tree permit either. Any tree-removal permit comes from your specific town, village, or city. Erie County's role is limited to conservation advice and stormwater protection.
Rainwater harvesting is legal and encouraged in Erie County. There is no county ban on rain barrels. Erie County, with the WNY Stormwater Coalition and Soil & Water Conservation District, actively sells subsidized rain barrels to cut stormwater runoff and conserve water.
Erie County has no ordinance regulating artificial turf on residential property. In New York, any turf, lot-coverage, or drainage rules come from town, village, or city zoning codes. The county's only related concern is stormwater, since impervious surfaces affect runoff.
Erie County does not enforce a weed ordinance. The statewide NY Property Maintenance Code prohibits weeds over 10 inches and bans noxious weeds, but your town, village, or city code-enforcement officer enforces it, not the county. Standards and notice periods vary by municipality.
Most Erie County residents get water from the Erie County Water Authority (ECWA), drawn from Lake Erie and the Niagara River. In this humid climate there is no routine watering-day schedule. ECWA conservation guidance is voluntary; it can restrict outdoor use only during a declared drought or emergency.
Erie County does not regulate native versus non-native landscaping; planting choices are governed only by any local town ordinances. The county's role is advisory: the Soil & Water Conservation District sells native trees and shrubs, and Cornell Cooperative Extension teaches native-plant gardening.
Backyard composting is legal and encouraged in Erie County. The county has no mandate or ban on home composting; nuisance and setback details, if any, come from local town codes. Erie County sells subsidized compost bins and Cornell Extension teaches composting.
Under the NYS Uniform Code, a detached one-story shed of 144 square feet or less may be exempted from a building permit, but each Erie County municipality decides whether to honor that exemption and applies its own zoning setbacks.
Converting a garage to living space is a zoning and building matter handled by your Erie County town, city, or village, not the county. A permit and Uniform Code compliance are required, and local zoning controls whether the new use is allowed.
Erie County has no countywide carport ordinance. Whether you can build a carport, and its setbacks, size, and permit requirements, are governed by your town, city, or village zoning code and the NYS Uniform Code.
Erie County does not zone for accessory dwelling units. Whether an ADU, in-law suite, or backyard cottage is allowed on your lot is decided by your town, city, or village zoning code, not by county government.
Erie County has no tiny-home ordinance. Whether a tiny house is allowed, and as what, is decided by your town, city, or village zoning code, while the NYS Uniform Code and RCNYS set building standards for any permanent dwelling.
Home business zoning in Erie County is set by each town, city, or village, not the county. Home occupations must be incidental and secondary to residential use and must not change the residential character of the property.
Home business signage in Erie County is regulated by each town, city, or village, not the county. Most local codes tie home-occupation signs to the requirement that the business stay incidental and not alter the residential character.
Cottage food in Erie County follows New York's state Home Processor exemption under Ag & Markets Article 20-C, not a county rule. Registration is free and lets you sell certain non-hazardous baked goods, jams, and snacks made in your home kitchen.
Home occupation permits in Erie County are issued at the town, city, or village level, not by the county. Some municipalities require a special-use permit or registration; others allow home occupations as an accessory use with no separate permit.
Home daycare in Erie County is licensed or registered by the NY State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS), not the county. Family day care is registered; group family day care is licensed, each with set capacity limits.
Illegal dumping in Erie County is prohibited under New York Environmental Conservation Law Article 27 and enforced by the NY DEC, plus municipal codes. Dumping solid waste without authorization carries state civil penalties up to $2,500 per violation and more per day.
Trash and recycling pickup in Erie County is arranged municipally, not by the county. Some towns and the City of Buffalo collect directly, while others require residents to hire a permitted private hauler. Erie County provides recycling planning and a municipal-collection directory.
Rules for where and when to place trash and recycling bins at the curb are set by each Erie County municipality or its hauler, not by the county. Set-out times, curb distance, and removal deadlines vary town to town.
Erie County coordinates recycling countywide through its Local Solid Waste Management Plans, but the actual recyclables list and mandatory-recycling rules are set by each municipality. New York's Electronic Equipment and battery laws add statewide recycling mandates.
Bulk-item and large-trash disposal in Erie County is handled by each municipality or hauler, not the county. Erie County supports disposal of special streams like electronics, hazardous waste, and paint through drop-off events and voucher programs.
Backyard smokers using charcoal, wood, or propane are allowed in Erie County as cooking fires under DEC and state fire-code rules. Placement near buildings and apartment balconies is restricted like other grills.
Backyard propane and charcoal grilling is legal in Erie County under the New York State Fire Code, which restricts grill use on apartment balconies and near buildings. There is no countywide grilling ordinance.
Erie County imposes no countywide building-height limit. Maximum structure height is set by your city, town, or village zoning code and varies by district. Check your municipality's dimensional standards.
Erie County has no countywide setback ordinance. Front, side, and rear setbacks are set entirely by your city, town, or village zoning code and vary by district. Check your municipality for the exact minimums.
Erie County has no countywide lot-coverage or impervious-surface limit. Maximum building and lot coverage is set by your city, town, or village zoning code and varies by district. Check your municipality.
Property blight in Erie County is regulated at the town, city, and village level, not by the county. Buffalo, Amherst, Cheektowaga, and other municipalities enforce the New York State Property Maintenance Code plus their own local blight and nuisance-abatement laws against exterior deterioration.
Vacant lots and vacant structures in Erie County are regulated by each municipality under the NYS Property Maintenance Code and local law. Owners must keep vacant land clean, safe, secure, and sanitary; the county does not enforce these standards.
Rules on trash bins, containers, and garbage storage in Erie County are set by each municipality, not the county. The NYS Property Maintenance Code requires sanitary garbage storage, and towns and cities add local container and screening requirements.
Weed and tall-grass rules in Erie County are set and enforced by each town, city, and village, not the county. The NYS Property Maintenance Code caps weeds at 10 inches on used premises, and municipalities add their own mowing ordinances.
Garage and yard sale rules in Erie County are set entirely by each municipality, not the county. Towns, cities, and villages decide whether a permit is needed and limit the number and duration of sales per year.
Erie County has no countywide political-sign ordinance. Yard-sign rules, size limits, and time windows are set by your town, city, or village sign code, bounded by First Amendment protections for temporary political speech.
Erie County has no countywide garage-sale-sign ordinance. Temporary sign rules, including size, duration, and whether signs may go in the right-of-way, are set by your town, city, or village.
Erie County has no countywide dark-sky or outdoor-lighting ordinance. Any shielding, fixture-height, or lumen limits for residential lighting are adopted (or not) by your individual town, city, or village.
Erie County has no countywide light-trespass ordinance. Complaints about a neighbor's lights spilling onto your property are handled through your town, city, or village zoning standards or common-law nuisance, not by the county.
These unincorporated areas are also governed by Erie County ordinances.