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.
Ulster County, NY
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Ulster County, NY
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Ulster County, NY
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Ulster County, NY
Ulster County enforces New York State Agriculture and Markets Law on dangerous dogs, while barking nuisance rules are set by individual municipalities. Kings...
Ulster County, NY
Ulster County itself does not set countywide quiet hours; rules are governed by each town, village, and the City of Kingston. Most Ulster municipalities, inc...
Ulster County, NY
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See how Ulster County's rainwater harvesting rules stack up against other locations.
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