Chappaqua Is a Hamlet in the Town of New Castle
Chappaqua is a hamlet, not a municipality of its own. The Town of New Castle is the government that issues the building permits, and its two hamlet centers are Chappaqua and Millwood.
According to the Town's 2017 comprehensive plan, about 92% of New Castle's housing units are single-family homes, and most of the land zoned for single-family use carries a one-acre or two-acre minimum lot size. The oldest residential neighborhoods are in the hamlets themselves. A county planning study found that more than half of the Town's residences were built before 1970 and over a quarter before 1949.
What that means for a remodel is two different jobs. The older houses in the hamlet have had generations of earlier work done to them behind their walls, and the larger lots outside it tend to hold newer houses with more space to add on. The Old Chappaqua Historic District, along Quaker Road, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is made up of early wood frame houses.
Sewer in the Hamlet, Septic Outside It
Most of New Castle relies on septic systems. Some areas, mainly in and around the Chappaqua hamlet, are on sewer. Town law requires a septic system to be inspected at least once every five years.
This matters for an addition because a septic system is sized by the number of bedrooms. Adding a bedroom to a house on septic can change what the system has to handle. Under Westchester County Health Department rules, when a house served by its own septic system gets an addition, the local building department refers it to the Health Department, which has to sign off that the existing system is adequate. We explain the full process on our permits and licensing page.
Find out whether you are on sewer or septic before planning a bedroom addition. It is one of the first things we ask at the estimate.
The Architectural Review Board and the $25,000 Line
New Castle has an Architectural Review Board. It reviews building permit applications for work affecting the exterior of a building in a residence district where the Building Inspector estimates the cost at more than $25,000.
Every addition we build is above that line, so this review is a normal step in our work, not an exception. An interior kitchen or bathroom remodel that does not affect the exterior is a different case. We find out from the building department which path a project takes before we draw anything.
Wetlands, Slopes and Trees
A New Castle permit is required for activity in a wetland or within the wetland buffer, which extends 100 feet from the wetland boundary. A steep slope permit is required to disturb a steep slope, and tree removal permits apply to larger trees.
On a wooded or sloping lot these rules decide where an addition can go before a floor plan is ever drawn. The lot tells you what is possible; the design follows from that. We raise these questions at the estimate so nothing is a surprise later.
Where the Permits Come From
The Town of New Castle building department is at 200 South Greeley Avenue, Chappaqua, (914) 238-5177. That is the Town's number, not ours — our number is (914) 474-1951.
We hold a Westchester County Home Improvement License, number WC-33098-H20, and we pull the permits for the work we do through the Town of New Castle. We do not start the work before the permit is in place.
What We Do in Chappaqua
We do four things, all residential: kitchen remodeling, bathroom remodeling, home additions, and home remodeling. Our projects start at $40,000, and we do not do handyman work or small repairs.
Anthony Quattrone has more than 40 years of experience and is on the job himself. The estimates are free, and the work carries a one-year warranty. If your project is a full kitchen, a full bathroom, an addition, or a multi-room renovation, call us or request a free estimate.
Where We Work
We work in Westchester County, New York, and only there. Chappaqua is one of the towns we serve.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chappaqua its own municipality? Who issues the permits?
Is my Chappaqua house on sewer or septic, and why does it matter?
Can I add a bedroom if my house is on septic?
Does an addition need Architectural Review Board approval?
What if part of my lot is wetland or steep?
Do you take on small jobs in Chappaqua?
Free Estimate
Request a Free Estimate
Call Anthony directly, or send the details below. We come to the house and give you a free estimate.
(914) 474-1951Monday–Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM