Remodeling a House in Larchmont
Larchmont is an incorporated village inside the Town of Mamaroneck, on Long Island Sound. Its oldest section, Larchmont Manor, began when an estate was divided into building lots. After 1872 the area became a summer resort for New Yorkers, and many of the Victorian "cottages" from that period still stand, now as private houses.
What that means for a remodel is that the housing stock is old, the lots are village lots, and the size of a house is regulated as closely as its appearance. A remodel here is not only a question of what the inside looks like. It is a question of how much house the lot is allowed to hold, and of how the outside reads from the street. Both come up early, and both are decided by the Village, not by the county.
Floor Area Ratio: The Number That Decides an Addition
Before an addition is drawn, the question is how much floor area the lot has left. The Village sets a maximum floor area ratio for single-family houses on a sliding scale by lot size — smaller lots are allowed a higher ratio, larger lots a lower one. The Village publishes its floor area and lot coverage tables, and the Building and Engineering Department can answer for your specific lot.
This is the number that decides whether an addition is possible at all, and how large it can be. A floor plan drawn before anyone has checked the ratio is a floor plan that may not be buildable. The right first step for an addition in Larchmont is a conversation about the property — what the lot allows — not a drawing of the room.
We have that conversation with you at the estimate. If you are thinking about an addition, we start with what the Village will allow on your lot before we talk about the finish.
The Architectural Review Board
The Village has an Architectural Review Board, a five-member volunteer board appointed by the Board of Trustees, which reviews proposed exterior alterations to residential properties. Its approval does not replace the building permit — it is a separate step, and both are required.
The practical split matters here. A kitchen or bathroom remodel that does not change the outside of the house is a different conversation from an addition. Interior work does not go before the board. An addition, or any change to the exterior, does. Replacing windows with an exact match does not need a hearing. We handle the review as part of pulling the permit when it applies.
Permits Come From the Village
Building permits come from the Village of Larchmont Building and Engineering Department, 120 Larchmont Avenue, (914) 834-4349. That is the Village's number, not ours — our number is (914) 474-1951.
The Village requires contractors to hold a Westchester County Home Improvement License to work under a permit. We hold one — license number WC-33098-H20. We pull the permits for the work we do, and we do not start the work before the permit is in place.
If the House Is Near the Water
The Village requires a floodplain development permit for work in a special flood hazard area. If the cost of the work equals or exceeds 50% of the market value of the structure, the Village's substantial improvement rules apply. Larchmont sits on Long Island Sound, so this comes up for houses near the water. We cover the flood rules in detail on our Westchester remodeling permits page.
What We Do in Larchmont
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. Larchmont is one of the towns we serve.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Who issues building permits in Larchmont?
Does an addition in Larchmont need Architectural Review Board approval?
What is floor area ratio, and why does it matter in Larchmont?
Does Larchmont require a licensed contractor?
Do you take on small jobs in Larchmont?
Nearby towns we work in: Mamaroneck, Rye, Port Chester.
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