New York Porch

Rules & licenses · Home checks

The New York home checks that are easier before closing.

This is not meant to scare you away from a good house. It is meant to keep a good house good. New York has old housing, wet ground, lakefront, oceanfront, rural wells, city pipes, and mountain lots. A little due diligence goes a long way.

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Flood and shoreline

Check FEMA maps, local floodplain rules, and any coastal erosion or shoreline permit area before a waterfront or low-lying project.

Freshwater or tidal wetlands

A wet backyard, mapped wetland, stream, marsh, or buffer can affect what you can fill, clear, build, or drain.

Private well

A clean-looking tap is not a water test. Ask for recent lab results or test before relying on the well.

Septic

A septic system is local-health-department territory. Age, capacity, setbacks, and soil matter.

Radon

Radon is invisible and testable. A low-cost test is normal due diligence, not a panic button.

Lead paint

Pre-1978 housing deserves a lead-paint question, especially with kids, renovations, or peeling paint.

Using this list

Start with the property, not the fear. A Long Island coastal home, a Catskills creekside house, a Finger Lakes cottage, a North Country cabin, and a 1920s city rowhouse each deserve different checks.

The smart move is to ask for the right document early: flood map, wetland map, well test, septic record, radon result, lead disclosure, permit history, or local code answer. None of those documents has to ruin the deal. They just help you price and plan it honestly.

Who to call

For water and septic, start with the county or local health department. For wetlands, shoreline, floodplain, and coastal erosion, start with DEC, FEMA maps, and the local building office. For radon and lead, use state health guidance and a qualified inspector or tester.

Official sources

Reviewed July 2026. Environmental, flood, well, septic, radon, lead, and permit details are property-specific; confirm with the official agency, local office, or qualified inspector.

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