Q. What recourse do I have if an application is denied by the Zoning Board of Appeals? A. Any person aggrieved by a decision by the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA), or any officer, board or bureau of the Town, may apply to the State Supreme Court for review by an Article 78 proceeding. All such actions must be commenced within 30 days of the decision under contention. Residents may wish to consult a private attorney regarding such action.
Q. I would like to build a front porch on my house. What is the required distance I need to be from the street?
A. In order to build a front porch on your house, you must first file a written application with the Department of Planning and Development, Building Division, to obtain a building permit. Usually front porches are reviewed on a case-by-case basis, so that a variance may be issued.
If you have any questions regarding front porches/decks, please call the Building Department at (631) 957-3058.
Q. How do I get a copy of my Certificate of Occupancy?
A. All requests for Certificates of Occupancy must be made in writing and in person to the Building Department. The fee is $50 per request for a Certified Certificate of Occupancy (C/O) and $25 for an uncertified C/O.
Q. How can I get a copy of my survey?
A. Survey copies are available for a small fee of $1.00 and are available at the Building Department. Applicants must be in person to request a copy of a survey and must also show proof of ownership, such as a license, to receive their survey copy.
Please note: Only copies of surveys that have been filed with the Town can be obtained.
Q. How can I find out where the cesspools are located on my property?
A. The Town does not record this information. The Suffolk County Board of Health can answer this question. They can be reached at (631) 853-3300. Please have your address and tax map number available.
Q. Does the Building Department accept credit card payments?
A. This option is being explored. Currently, the Building Department does not have this capability.
Q. What is the fax number for the Building Department?
A. The Fax number for the Building Department is (631) 957-3115.
Q. Can I have a basement apartment?
A.Basement apartments are not allowed by Town Code. A Basement apartment is defined as any separate and contained living space in the basement. A basement is the portion of the building having its floor below ground level.
A basement space becomes an illegal apartment when a kitchen is added. You can have a bedroom in the basement without a kitchen as long as the ceiling height is at least 7 feet 6 inches and there is an egress window in that room.
Q. What is a Building Permit and why do I need one?
A. A Building Permit is the first step to making any change to property you own. This permit is issued from the Town and allows the building process to begin.
The building permit process allows you to know that your project is built to code, inspected, and legally recognized by the Town so you can live in your home with peace of mind that it has met all safety and legal standards.
In addition, by working with the Town to achieve compliance, you will obtain a certificate of occupancy (CO), which home owner's insurance and mortgage companies require. You must have a CO before you can live in this structure.
Structures that are built without a building permit are subject to fines.
A building permit is a formal written approval, stating all requirements and it is subject to various inspections by the Town allowing you to, in any way, alter property that you own.
This permit is subject to a number of requirements which will be decscribed below. Note that
Q. How do I apply for a Building Permit?
A. You can apply for a building permit through the Town's Building Department located at Babylon Town Hall at 200 East Sunrise Highway in Lindenhurst. A customer service representative will provide you with all the necessary forms and walk you through the procedures.
Have a general question? Submit it here for review:
*Please note: Inquiries submitted in this section cannot be responded to by
individual email as only your question will be sent for consideration –
no personal information, i.e. your email address will be sent along with your inquiry.
If it is determined that an answer to your posted question is not already contained
in this section and will be beneficial to other Town of Babylon residents, it will
be posted. If you have a specific need that needs to be addressed, you can email us
by clicking on the Contact Us section on the navigational bar to the left of your screen.
