Custom Home Builder in Ossining, NY

Westchester Custom Home Building Service Serving Ossining

New houses and rebuilds in the Village and Town of Ossining, from hillside streets above the Hudson to the larger lots toward Croton and Briarcliff. Two building departments, one Guardian project manager.

Village or Town? Start Here

Ossining has two separate permit offices, both at the Operations Center on Route 9A, and the rules differ:

Village of Ossining

Its own Building Department, filing only through the online portal, Village Planning Board, and a Historic Preservation Commission for designated districts.

Town of Ossining (unincorporated)

Town Building Department on the second floor, with a combined Planning/Architectural Review Board that issues steep-slope, wetland and grading permits.

Briarcliff Manor addresses

Part of the Village of Briarcliff Manor lies in the Town of Ossining, but it has its own building department.

Hills, History and Older Houses

The Village rises steeply from the riverfront, and many of its streets were laid out in the 1800s, when the Old Croton Aqueduct was carrying water through town to New York City. The aqueduct trail still runs through Ossining, and the housing around it is a mix of 19th-century homes, early 20th-century colonials and postwar capes. In the unincorporated Town, the lots are larger and the terrain is just as rolling.

That means most new homes in Ossining are replacements, and most sites have some slope. Before design, we look at grade changes, rock, mature trees and drainage paths, because those decide where the house can sit and whether a steep-slope or grading permit is needed.

Our Approach on an Ossining Lot

Jurisdiction. Village, Town or Briarcliff Manor, confirmed from the tax map.
Survey and topography. Contours, trees, rock and any watercourse shown on one sheet.
Historic check. Whether a Village historic district applies, and what the Commission will want to see.
Utilities. Sewer and water service in the Village, and on outlying Town lots, the connection or septic question settled early.
Honest comparison. A priced look at a home addition or full renovation against a new house.

Guardian has built and remodeled across Westchester and Putnam since 1980. Licensed, insured subcontractors handle electrical, plumbing and HVAC under a Guardian project manager.

From Teardown to Certificate of Occupancy

1. Feasibility

Zoning, slopes and approvals listed in writing.

2. Design

Architect drawings priced as they progress.

3. Board review

Planning/ARB, HPC or other boards as the lot requires.

4. Demolition and permit

Asbestos survey and disconnects, then the building permit.

5. Construction

Inspections at each stage and a one-year workmanship warranty.

Ossining New Home FAQs

Is my lot in the Village or the Town of Ossining?

It depends on the parcel, not the mailing address. The Village has its own Building Department and boards. The Town’s Building Department covers only the unincorporated area outside the villages. Part of Briarcliff Manor is also in the Town of Ossining but has its own village government. We confirm the jurisdiction from the tax map first.

How do Village of Ossining permits get filed?

Since September 2023, the Village Building Department has accepted applications online only, through the Municity/CitySquared portal. Questions go to the department at (914) 941-3199. Properties in a local historic district also need a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic Preservation Commission.

What does the Town Planning Board review?

In the unincorporated Town, the Planning Board also serves as the Architectural Review Board. It handles architectural review, site plans and subdivisions, plus wetlands, steep-slope and filling and grading permits. It usually meets on the first and third Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m., with the first meeting of the month as a work session.

Can we meet the Town's consultants before applying?

Yes. The Town offers a pre-application meeting with the Planning Board engineer and planner for a fee. On a sloped or wet lot, it is often worth doing before the design is fixed.

We also build new homes in Briarcliff Manor, Tarrytown and Chappaqua.

Building in Ossining?

Send the address and your ideas. We’ll confirm the jurisdiction, review the lot and send a written estimate.

Guardian Remodeling Corp · 143 Lake Shore Dr W, Carmel, NY 10512 · 914-912-0385 · Frank@guardianremodelingcorp.com