Clarence Building Department 2026: Permits, Inspections & Services

Clarence Building Permits and Inspections: What to Do First

If you are building, remodeling, installing a deck, replacing a roof, adding HVAC equipment, putting in a pool, demolishing a structure, or changing the use of a property in Clarence, New York, the Town of Clarence Building Department is usually the place to start.

The important part is not simply downloading a form. Clarence projects can involve zoning, property surveys, stamped plans, drainage, soil testing, contractor insurance, septic or sewer approvals, driveway approval, electrical inspections and final occupancy documents. Preparing those items before you visit the office can save a frustrating second trip.

Clarence Building Department Contact Information

As of October 2026, the Town lists Timothy Lavocat, P.E., CFM as Town Engineer/Department Head and Paul J. Gross as Senior Code Enforcement Officer, along with code enforcement staff responsible for fire safety, plumbing, property maintenance and construction inspections.

Clarence directly administers its own permit process. That is important because permit authority varies across New York. For example, nearby Western New York users dealing with another municipality should not assume Clarence procedures apply; our Cattaraugus County building permit guide explains why the responsible town, village or city matters.

What the Building Department Handles

The department reviews plans, issues permits, performs construction inspections, enforces applicable building and property rules, responds to complaints and issues final Certificates of Occupancy or Certificates of Compliance for permitted projects.

The Town specifically lists new construction, additions, conversions, alterations, pools, decks, sheds, walls, reroofing, plumbing, heating and cooling systems, electrical work and generator installations among work that may require permits.

How to Apply for a Clarence Building Permit

1. Define the exact scope of work.
   Write down what you are building or changing, the property address, dimensions, estimated project value and whether plumbing, electrical, HVAC, excavation or structural work is involved.
2. Call the Building Department before preparing the full package.
   Different permits require different supporting documents. A short call to (716) 741-8950 can confirm what applies to your specific project.
3. Download the current form.
   Open the Town’s Building Department forms page and choose the appropriate building, demolition, mechanical, operating, pool or other application.
4. Prepare plans and property documents.
   Depending on the project, the Town may require a survey, site or grading plan, construction drawings, architect/engineer documents, soil information, energy-code calculations, septic or sewer approvals, driveway approval or floodplain documentation.
5. Prepare contractor insurance documents.
   General contractors must provide the required New York workers’ compensation and disability documentation or a qualifying project-specific CE-200 exemption.
6. Submit the permit package to the Building Department.
   The Town’s FAQ instructs applicants to file at 6221 Goodrich Road during Building Department hours.
7. Complete plan review and corrections.
   Do not begin regulated construction simply because you submitted an application. Wait until the permit is actually approved and issued.
8. Pay and pick up the approved permit.
   The Town says that after you are notified the permit is ready, payment is made through the Town Clerk’s office. Keep the receipt and bring it back to the Building Department to sign for and collect the permit.
9. Schedule required inspections before work is covered.
   Clarence generally requires at least 24 hours’ advance notice for inspections.
10. Finish with the required final certificate.
    A permitted space should not be occupied or used until applicable final inspections are complete and the Town issues the required Certificate of Occupancy or Certificate of Compliance.

What Documents May Be Required?

The Town’s two-page building permit application shows the types of documents staff may check during review. Not every project needs every item.

• Completed building permit application
• Job address and property-owner information
• Applicant and contractor information
• Estimated value of work
• Three plan copies, including one stamped and signed original when required
• Property survey
• Grading and drainage plot plan
• Driveway approval from the applicable Town, County or State highway authority
• Sewer permit or Erie County Health Department septic approval where applicable
• New York State energy calculations
• Stamped architect/engineer code-review checklist where required
• Soil-test results and design-professional review where applicable
• Floodplain development approval when applicable
• Planning Board, Town Board or Board of Appeals approval when required
• Workers’ compensation and disability documentation or qualifying exemption

Clarence’s application also places responsibility on the property owner to make sure required approvals and final certificates are obtained. A contractor can handle the permit, but the homeowner should still verify that the permit was actually issued before work starts.

New Home Permit Requirements in Clarence

A new home requires considerably more than a basic application. The Town’s current new-home guidance identifies the following items as part of the process:

• A property survey stamped by a New York licensed surveyor when required
• Residential grading and drainage/site plan
• Acceptable soil testing
• Three complete sets of building plans, including a properly sealed set where required
• New York State energy-code documentation
• A Town-licensed plumber for applicable inside and outside plumbing work
• Driveway/culvert approval from the highway authority responsible for the road
• Septic or sewer documentation
• Workers’ compensation documentation for contractors
• Completed permit application signed as required
• Architect/engineer code-review documentation where required

The Town also warns applicants not to begin lot clearing or filling before the complete building permit application has been filed. Projects involving multifamily, restricted business, neighborhood business, commercial, research-development or industrial zoning may require Planning Board and/or Town Board review before a building permit can be issued.

For the Town’s current checklist, use the official new-home construction process.

Additions and Remodeling

Residential additions often require a property survey showing the proposed addition, soil information, building plans, energy documentation, applicable plumbing information and contractor insurance records. Septic properties can require Erie County Health Department documentation when the project changes the number of bedrooms.

The Town maintains a dedicated addition and remodel information page with the relevant applications and supporting material.

Clarence Building Permit Fees

The Building Department still publishes a fee schedule labeled effective January 1, 2024. These are the Town’s currently listed fees as reviewed in October 2026, but confirm the amount before payment in case a newer schedule is adopted.

Check the official Clarence permit and plumbing fee schedule before paying.

Commercial permit fees

The published schedule lists a $100 filing fee for a new commercial structure, $0.35 per square foot for new construction and additions, and $0.35 per square foot for substantial remodeling. Minor remodeling uses a graduated schedule based on floor area. Commercial mechanical work is listed at $150 per unit.

Common plumbing fees

Extra Fees That Can Be Avoided

Clarence’s published fee schedule includes several charges that are easy to avoid when a project follows the approved sequence.

• Incomplete long-running project: 50% of the building permit fee may be charged annually when a project is not substantially completed within one year and no Certificate of Occupancy or Compliance has been issued.
• Substantial plan changes before permit issuance: $150.
• Advancing past a required inspection or work not ready for a scheduled inspection: the current fee schedule lists $200 per visit.
• Starting without a required building permit: 50% of the normal building permit fee, with a $200 minimum.
• Starting pool construction without the permit: 200% of the swimming-pool permit fee.
• Pool permit not completed within three months: published renewal fee of $100, with a stated weather-delay exception.
• Occupancy before a Certificate of Occupancy: $500 per week under the published schedule, except the stated residential accessory-structure exception.
• Changing contractors after permit issuance: $50.

How Building Inspections Work

Call the Building Department at (716) 741-8950 to schedule Town inspections. Clarence states that inspections generally require 24 hours’ advance notice. Plumbing may sometimes be handled differently, so confirm timing when you call.

For residential construction, the Town’s inspection guidance includes these major stages:

1. Driveway approval before applicable site work
2. Grade, setback and sideline verification before excavation
3. Footings, foundations, piers and waterproofing
4. Spotted survey after the foundation is completed
5. Rough plumbing, rough electrical and framing before insulation and concealment
6. Fireplace, chimney or solid-fuel components where applicable
7. Insulation before wall coverings
8. Foundation drain tile and related work where applicable
9. Final electrical, plumbing and Town building inspections

Electrical work is treated separately. The Town’s building permit application currently directs electrical permit and inspection questions to Empire Inspections at (585) 798-1849.

Do not cover framing, wiring, plumbing, insulation or another inspection item before the required inspection is complete. If corrections are issued, fix them before moving to the next stage.

Use the Town’s residential inspection checklist for the published sequence.

Certificate of Occupancy or Compliance

A permit is not necessarily finished when construction stops. Clarence requires applicable permitted projects to complete inspections and receive a Certificate of Occupancy (CO) or Certificate of Compliance before the covered building or space is occupied or used.

For new residential construction, final closeout can include:

• Final electrical approval
• Written septic approval from Erie County Health or applicable sewer compliance
• Final plumbing inspection
• Final Town Building Inspector approval
• Completion of remaining safety and occupancy items

The Town’s residential instructions say the Certificate of Occupancy is picked up from the Building Department after final approval rather than simply assuming the permit is closed.

2026 New York Building Codes Used in Clarence

For new permit applications in 2026, the current statewide framework is the 2025 New York State Uniform Code and 2025 New York State Energy Code. They became fully effective on December 31, 2025.

The Uniform Code includes the current New York residential, building, plumbing, mechanical, fuel-gas, fire, property-maintenance and existing-building code provisions. Clarence also applies its local zoning and other municipal requirements.

There is one important 2026 qualification: the New York Department of State reported on July 2, 2026 that enforcement of certain 2025 provisions prohibiting fossil-fuel equipment and building systems in new buildings remained suspended by court order. Other code requirements remain in effect.

For current statewide status, use the New York Department of State code-adoption notice.

The same state code can be administered through very different local procedures. For comparison, the Albany Building Department guide explains Albany’s city process, while Clarence follows its own Town procedures.

Planning, Zoning, Fences and Variances

Not every construction-related approval belongs to the Building Department. Clarence’s Planning & Zoning Department handles land-use review and applications such as fence permits, sign permits and zoning variances.

Planning & Zoning is located at One Town Place, Clarence, NY 14031 and lists (716) 741-8933 as its phone number.

Open the official Planning & Zoning Department page if your project involves setbacks, a variance, site-plan review, a sign, a fence or another land-use issue.

This split between building and zoning functions is common but not identical everywhere. Our Armonk Building Department guide is another example of why applicants should use the procedures of the municipality where the property is physically located.

Driveways, Excavation, Septic and Sewer Approvals

A Clarence building permit does not replace permits from other authorities.

Driveway or road work

Work within a public highway area, including certain culverts, curb cuts, ditch work, sanitary sewer or storm-sewer installations, can require a separate permit from the highway department that controls the road.

The Town’s published contacts include:

• Town of Clarence Highway Department: (716) 741-3210
• Erie County Highway: (716) 759-8328
• New York State highway contacts are provided in the Town’s new-home instructions for state-controlled roads

Septic and sewer

Properties using septic systems may need Erie County Health Department approval. Properties served by applicable sewer districts may require sewer documentation or fees before the building permit can be completed.

Workers’ Compensation and Disability Insurance

Clarence requires general contractors to provide the applicable New York workers’ compensation and disability documentation.

The Town’s current insurance instructions identify:

• C-105.2 for workers’ compensation when applicable
• DB-120.1/DB-120.2 documentation as applicable for disability coverage
• CE-200 for applicants who legally qualify for an exemption

The Town specifically says a CE-200 exemption should be completed for the project and address covered by the permit. Do not reuse an unrelated exemption from another project.

The forms and current Town instructions are available from the Clarence Building Department forms page.

Permanent Generator Permits

A permanent home generator requires a permit. The Town’s published fee is $75.

The permit package can require the proposed generator location on a property survey, contractor insurance, manufacturer’s installation instructions and compliance with zoning, fire-safety and clearance requirements.

Because generator placement varies by zoning district, do not choose the final location only from a contractor’s preferred equipment position. The Town’s published generator guidance includes property-line, building-opening, combustible-material, utility-access and flood-area considerations.

Open the Town’s permanent generator requirements before installation.

Pool Permits

Clarence requires permits for swimming pools. The published fee schedule lists $75 for an above-ground pool and $150 for an in-ground pool.

The Town maintains a separate pool page with the application, information sheet and pool-regulation agreement:

Town of Clarence pool permit information.

Do not begin the installation first and plan to obtain the permit later. The Town’s fee schedule specifically provides an increased fee for starting a pool project without the required permit.

Demolition Permits

Demolition deserves extra planning because Clarence’s demolition packet includes requirements beyond simply paying a permit fee.

The published packet calls for items that can include:

• Property survey showing the structure
• Contractor workers’ compensation and disability documentation
• Required asbestos material survey and related documentation
• Utility disconnections
• Sewer or septic closeout requirements
• Rodent-control measures
• Dust and site-safety controls
• Proper disposal documentation
• Final inspection and Certificate of Completion

Structures constructed before 1950 may also require historical review before demolition proceeds.

Permit Expiration and Unfinished Work

The Town’s general building permit application states that the permit expires if work has not commenced within six months of issuance. Project-specific permits can contain their own conditions.

Separately, Clarence’s published fee schedule says an additional fee equal to 50% of the building permit fee can be charged annually when a project is not substantially complete within one year and a Certificate of Occupancy or Compliance has not been issued.

If your project is delayed, contact the Building Department before the permit reaches its deadline. Do not assume that paying the original fee allows the permit to remain open indefinitely.

How to Check Old Permits, Plans or Building Records

The Town keeps records of permitted projects. Clarence’s FAQ says members of the public can request records under New York’s Freedom of Information Law (FOIL). Depending on the record, copying charges or a formal request may apply.

1. Write down the exact property address.
2. Include the owner name and approximate construction date if known.
3. Ask specifically for building permits, inspection records, Certificates of Occupancy/Compliance or available plans.
4. Follow the Town’s FOIL instructions if staff says a formal request is required.

If you are purchasing a property, ask about open permits, unclosed construction, outstanding inspection issues and occupancy certificates, not merely whether a permit was once issued.

Permit-record systems differ significantly elsewhere in the state. Properties within New York City, for example, use NYC Department of Buildings systems; see our Bronx Building Department guide if the property is in that jurisdiction rather than Clarence.

A Practical Checklist Before You Visit the Office

• Confirm the property is within the Town of Clarence permitting jurisdiction.
• Know exactly what work you plan to perform.
• Call (716) 741-8950 and confirm the permit category.
• Download the latest application.
• Bring your property survey when location or setbacks matter.
• Prepare accurate dimensions and construction drawings.
• Obtain stamped professional plans when required.
• Check whether soil, grading or drainage information is needed.
• Resolve septic, sewer or driveway approvals early.
• Prepare contractor insurance or CE-200 documentation.
• Confirm whether Planning Board, Town Board or variance approval is needed.
• Do not begin regulated work before the permit is issued.
• Keep approved plans available during construction.
• Schedule inspections before work is concealed.
• Obtain the final Certificate of Occupancy or Compliance before considering the permit closed.

10 Frequently Asked Questions

Your Best Next Step

If your project is ready to move forward, the simplest path is to gather your property address, survey if available, a short description of the work and your contractor information, then call (716) 741-8950. Ask the Building Department exactly which application, plans, insurance documents and outside approvals are required.

Once you know the checklist, download the required forms from the official Clarence forms page, prepare the full package and submit it before starting construction.

Information reviewed: October 23, 2026. Permit requirements, fees, staff, forms and code rules can change. USBuilding.org is an independent informational resource and is not affiliated with the Town of Clarence. When Town instructions change, the current official requirement controls.