Showing ordinances that apply to Siena College, NY
Siena College is an unincorporated community (population 2,281) in Albany County, New York. Because Siena College is not an incorporated city, it does not have its own municipal code. Instead, Albany 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 throughout Albany County. New York has no statewide restriction on residential collection. NYSDEC and City of Albany promote rain barrels for stormwater reduction. Potable use requires NYSDOH-compliant treatment under 10 NYCRR Part 5.
Rainwater harvesting is fully legal in Albany County under New York State law. Unlike some western states, NY imposes no volumetric cap or permit requirement on residential rainwater collection under water rights law — riparian doctrine governs surface water, not rooftop runoff. NYSDEC actively promotes rain barrels and cisterns as green infrastructure under the Stormwater Management Design Manual. City of Albany Water Department has historically offered rain barrel rebate programs through the Capital District Regional Planning Commission (CDRPC) and Albany Pine Bush Preserve partnerships. Standard 55-gallon rain barrels require no permit. Cisterns over 5,000 gallons or with pressurized plumbing tie-ins require a plumbing permit under NYS Uniform Code (19 NYCRR Part 1220). Potable use requires treatment systems meeting NYS Sanitary Code 10 NYCRR Part 5 (Subpart 5-1) standards. HOAs in Loudonville, Delmar, and Slingerlands may restrict visible placement. Winter precautions include draining barrels before first hard freeze (typically mid-November in Zone 5b). NY RPL does not restrict rain barrels as aesthetic encumbrances.
Standard residential rain barrels: no penalty. Large cistern without plumbing permit: NYS Uniform Code violation $100 to $500 per 19 NYCRR §1203.3. Potable use without proper treatment: NYSDOH citation up to $2,000 under PHL §12.
See how Siena College's rainwater harvesting rules stack up against other locations.
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