Upstate NY Custom Home Building Blog

Starting your custom home journey is a unique thrill, but the early stages can feel like a waiting game. You’ve made the decision to build your dream home, but before the walls go up, there are crucial steps that happen behind the scenes. Permits, municipal approvals, and site preparation all play a vital role in setting your project up for success.

In the Greater Rochester area, especially across Ontario, Monroe, and Wayne Counties, these early phases are filled with moving parts, many of which are outside your control. From zoning departments and local code officials to utility providers and soil engineers, multiple teams are involved before construction can begin. It’s a process that has grown more complex and, in many cases, slower in recent years.

Gerber Homes has walked with hundreds of families through this phase. We know how frustrating the unknowns can feel, so our goal today is to help you understand what’s happening, why timelines vary, and how we support you through every step. Because setting realistic expectations from the beginning is one of the best ways to stay confident and focused throughout your homebuilding experience.

Why Early Planning Matters More Than Ever

The first steps to building your house require a surprising amount of groundwork, literally and figuratively. Pre-construction planning involves aligning your design with local codes, getting approvals from various municipal departments, and preparing your site for construction. And in New York State, these requirements are layered and thorough for good reason: they protect you, your investment, and your community.

The Reality of Today’s Homebuilding Environment

If you’ve built a home before or even just talked with someone who has, you may have heard that these early steps used to move faster. And that’s true. In recent years, a number of changes have contributed to slower timelines. These shifts mean that planning ahead is all the more essential. 

• More robust building code enforcement across New York State
  
  
• Stricter site review processes in certain municipalities
  
  
• Increased scrutiny of stormwater and environmental impact
  
  
• Labor and subcontractor shortages affecting both permitting offices and site crews
  
  
• Higher demand for new homes across the Rochester area
  

Why Gerber Focuses So Much on the Front End

We believe the early phases of homebuilding, getting permits, preparing your site, and clearing reviews shouldn’t feel like a black hole. Gerber Homes is your partner in every aspect. We’re here to:

• Help you find the right home site with a buildable footprint,
  
  
• Flag any special review requirements before they delay progress.
  
  
• Maintain close relationships with local departments to keep communication flowing,
  
  
• And advise you early on what’s realistic and what contingencies are worth preparing for.

Permits and Approvals: Who’s Involved and What to Expect

Before construction can begin, every new home must receive approval from the local municipality. Depending on where you’re building in the Greater Rochester area, this process can include zoning boards, planning departments, building inspectors, environmental reviewers, and occasionally, architectural review committees. Each group is responsible for ensuring your project complies with New York State building codes and local requirements.

This is a multi-step process; every department must sign off on every change before a permit is issued. A delay in just one of these areas can hold up your entire project. It’s important to understand that even with the best planning, some elements are simply out of your and your builder’s control.

Permit Timelines in Upstate New York

In some towns, permits might come through in four to six weeks. In others, especially where resources are stretched or project volume is high, that timeline might stretch to ten weeks or more. Add in seasonal surges or missing paperwork, and it’s easy to see how a “quick start” can become a waiting game.

There’s also the human element. Local permitting offices are often operating with smaller teams than in years past, and with the steady demand for new housing, backlogs are unfortunate realities.

Site Preparation: What Really Goes Into It

Site prep includes soil testing, grading, utility access, drainage planning, and getting the lot ready to safely and legally hold a home. These steps are critical for ensuring your house is built on a solid foundation, both literally and legally. A well-prepared site leads to smoother inspections, better timelines, and fewer surprises once the build is underway. Several variables can affect how long site prep takes. 

• Weather and seasonal conditions, especially in early spring or late fall
  
  
• Soil quality and underground conditions that may require remediation
  
  
• Availability of excavation crews and heavy equipment
  
  
• Land topography requiring clearing or regrading
  
  
• Availability of utilities and access

Site Prep Timelines in 2025

One of the biggest changes in recent years has been the challenge of finding and scheduling labor. Many skilled tradespeople and site prep crews are operating at full capacity, which means longer lead times and, in some cases, increased costs. Even once permits are secured, waiting for the right crew or equipment can delay the next construction phase.

Homeowners often ask, “How long does site prep take?” In ideal conditions, the answer might be three to four weeks. But given today’s realities, it’s more reasonable to expect five to eight weeks, especially if issues are uncovered during excavation or soil testing.

What’s a Reasonable Timeline Right Now?

So how long should you plan for this early stage? While every homesite and municipality is different, there are some general expectations that can help you prepare. Permitting and site prep combined can take anywhere from eight to sixteen-plus weeks. That means there may be a few months between signing your contract and seeing construction begin on site.

While this might feel like a slow start, it’s entirely normal, especially in today’s market. These steps are foundational and largely front-loaded with external approvals. Once they’re complete, the actual building process tends to move at a more predictable pace.

It’s also important to know that these early delays don’t necessarily mean your overall project will run behind. Being thorough on the front end often helps prevent surprises later. Starting with realistic expectations and a builder communicating clearly along the way makes a major difference.

Building in the Rochester Area and Beyond

Gerber Homes proudly builds custom homes throughout Monroe County, Ontario County, and Wayne County, covering a wide range of communities including Webster, Canandaigua, Victor, Fairport, Macedon, Ontario, and more. Each town and village has its own permitting process and development nuances, and we’ve spent decades learning the ins and outs of building in this region.

If you’re planning to build a custom home in the Greater Rochester area, we’re here to guide you through every step. Reach out to our team today to schedule a consultation, ask questions, or learn more about how we make building a custom home in Upstate New York a smoother, more supported experience.