Showing ordinances that apply to East Kingston, NY
East Kingston is an unincorporated community (population 277) in Ulster County, New York. Because East Kingston is not an incorporated city, it does not have its own municipal code. Instead, Ulster County ordinances apply directly to properties here. The rainwater harvesting rules below are the ones that govern your area.
Rainwater harvesting is legal and encouraged across New York. Ulster County allows residential rain barrels and cisterns without countywide permit. Potable uses require NYSDOH approval; non-potable use (irrigation) is unrestricted.
New York has no statute limiting residential rainwater collection. NY DEC actively promotes rain barrels as a stormwater best management practice. For non-potable uses (garden irrigation, washing), no permit is needed from the county or state. Large cisterns that serve plumbing fixtures become part of the plumbing system and must meet the NYS Uniform Code (Chapter 13) and NYSDOH Appendix 5-C if they touch drinking water. Ulster County's agricultural character makes ag/irrigation cisterns common, especially in dry Catskill-flank townships. Within the Ashokan watershed, NYC DEP supports rainwater reuse to reduce runoff.
Installing a rainwater system that connects to plumbing without code compliance can trigger stop-work orders and plumbing violations. No penalty for simple rain barrels.
See how East Kingston's rainwater harvesting rules stack up against other locations.
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