Local Governing Officials

This handbook is an authoritative source of information about the origins and operations of the Empire State, including a brief history and overview of federal, state, and local government and describing their evolving relationships, structures, and functions.

This document, published in cooperation with the Tug Hill Commission, provides a review of the procedures governing public meetings and hearings. Published in cooperation with the Tug Hill Commission.

This document provides practical suggestions, ideas and information to municipalities considering partnerships to provide services.

The “New N.Y. Government Reorganization and Citizen Empowerment Act” establishes uniform procedures for the consolidation or dissolution of local government. The law provides that the process of consolidation or dissolution may be initiated by either the governing bodies or by a petition of voters of the local government. This publication summarizes the procedures that must be followed, with relevant sections of the General Municipal Law referenced in brackets.

The “New N.Y. Government Reorganization and Citizen Empowerment Act” establishes uniform procedures for the consolidation or dissolution of local government. The new procedures apply to the consolidation and dissolution of towns, villages, fire districts, fire protection districts, fire alarm districts, special improvement districts or other improvement districts, library districts, and other districts created by law. It does not include school districts, city districts or special purpose districts created by counties under county law. This publication presents the new and amended sections of law in one convenient place.

This guide provides plain language, step-by-step requirements to draft and adopt a local law. Provides useful information on the scope of the home-rule power. Valuable for the municipal clerk and attorney.

This document explains the legal relationship between the comprehensive plan and municipal zoning regulations.

The zoning enforcement process, including options for enforcement and sample forms. Published in cooperation with the Tug Hill Commission and others.

This publication summarizes the various land use management tools which New York State municipalities can use to help deal with issues of community character and change.

This document provides a list of questions intended to assist communities in determining whether their existing zoning regulations are out of date or otherwise inadequate to meet the demands of present conditions.

This document provides an overview of municipal authority to regulate the placement of manufactured homes.

This document provides guidance to municipalities in the preparation of local laws or ordinances so that they do not impact farming activities that are conducted within agricultural districts established pursuant to Article 25-AA of the Agriculture and Markets Law.

This publication examines significant court cases involving signs and constitutional rights, focusing on legitimate exercises of municipal sign control. It also reviews the processes of planning and adopting a local law to regulate signs, and provides sample local law language.

This publication provides an overview of municipal regulatory authority in state statute and case law to preserve local historic resources.

This publication provides an overview of the designation of responsibility of enforcement of Uniform Fire Prevention and Building code.