Buying in Bronxville: the questions with sourced answers
Each answer below cites where it comes from — the Census, the office that holds the permits, the state code, or Lou’s own reports.
How old are the houses in Bronxville?
The Census puts the median year built for homes in zip code 10708 at 1944, and about 45% of the 10,004 housing units there were built before 1940. An older house is not a worse house, but its wiring, plumbing and roof were installed under different rules and replaced piecemeal, which is exactly what the inspection looks for. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019–2023 5-year estimates, tables B25035 and B25034, ZCTA 10708.
What kind of housing is Bronxville: single-family, two-family or apartments?
Of 10,004 housing units in zip 10708, about 28% are detached single-family houses, 3% are two-unit buildings, and 76% of occupied homes are owner-occupied. A two-family or a co-op is a different inspection from a detached house: shared systems, common areas and what the board or the other unit controls. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2019–2023 5-year, tables B25024 and B25003, ZCTA 10708.
Who holds the building permits and certificate of occupancy for a house in Bronxville?
Village of Bronxville Building Department. Permits and COs are kept by the municipality, not the inspector; checking them is a records search, usually through your attorney. The inspection reports the condition of what is there and flags work that typically needs a permit — a finished basement, a dormer, a moved panel — so you know what to ask about. Village of Bronxville Building Department. Page: 'issues construction permits... and issues certificates of occupancy'. 200 Pondfield Rd, 914-337-7350. ZIP 10708 also covers parts of Yonkers/Eastchester/Tuckahoe outside the village.
Which building code applies in Bronxville?
Westchester homes fall under the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code (19 NYCRR), which applies everywhere in the State except New York City and is enforced locally by each city, town and village. Source: dos.ny.gov.
Public water and sewer, or well and cesspool, in Bronxville?
There are 100 community public water suppliers in Westchester County, overseen by the Westchester County Department of Health; about 6% of residents are on private wells. The Westchester County Department of Environmental Facilities runs the county sewer districts: seven water resource recovery facilities, 42 pumping stations and 194 miles of trunk sewers processing more than 45 billion gallons a year. Septic (on-site) systems are regulated by the County Health Department's Septic Management Program under its Onsite Wastewater Treatment System rules effective April 1, 2022. The inspection reports what the house actually has and its visible condition; a cesspool or septic system needs its own evaluation. Source: health.westchestercountyny.gov.
Is Bronxville in a flood zone?
Flood zones follow the address, not the town. OpenFEMA holds 12,259 NFIP claim records for Westchester County (FIPS 36119). Look the address up on FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center before you sign. Source: www.fema.gov.
Should I test for radon in Bronxville?
Westchester is in EPA Zone 3 (low potential) — Zone 3 counties have a predicted average indoor radon screening level below 2 pCi/L; EPA still recommends testing every home. NYSDOH's county estimate (Feb 2007, 2,130 homes measured) is 3% of living areas and 17% of basements above 4 pCi/L, the highest of the nine areas; Cortlandt (27%), Lewisboro (28%) and North Castle (27%) basements were highest. Radon is a separate, optional test arranged alongside the inspection. Source: www.epa.gov.
Is there a local rule in Westchester a buyer should know about?
Westchester's Private Well-Water Testing Law (Local Law 7 of 2007, Laws of Westchester County s.707.01 et seq., effective Nov 19, 2007) requires any property served by a private drinking-water well to have the well tested for primary and secondary contaminants when it is sold, with results delivered to both buyer and seller; leased properties must be retested at least every five years and new wells tested before first use. Source: health.westchestercountyny.gov.
What did Lou’s Bronxville inspection actually turn up?
Across his report in Bronxville, the summary listed 23 repair-or-replace items, most of them under the roof, chimney and attic, the exterior and heating and cooling equipment. Every one is in the written report with a photograph; see what a report looks like.
How much does a home inspection in Bronxville cost, and how fast is the report?
Lou quotes the actual property, not a flat rate — what drives the price is size, age and what is included. The written report arrives the same day as a rule; a large or complex house can run to the next morning. Call or text 516-330-3870.
