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Where can I apply for a passport?
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You have several options when applying for a passport:
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You can apply for a passport at the office of the Dutchess County Clerk; normal processing is within 25 days (5 weeks) from date of receipt. Click Here to access the County Clerk’s page that contains more information about this.
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There are numerous other locations where you can apply for a passport in Dutchess County, including several post offices, libraries and town clerks. You will need an appointment to apply at some of these locations.
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To find out specifically where else you can apply and what the hours and appointment requirements are, click Here to visit the U.S. Department of State’s passport webpages, then click on “How to Get a Passport” and “Where to Apply”.
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Where can I find information about getting a learner's permit to drive?
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To apply for a driver's learner permit, you must be 16 years of age or older, you must show proof of identity, and you must show your social security card. Proof of identity must have a total value of at least six points and must prove your date of birth. After you pay the application fee and the driver license fee, pass the vision test and the written test, you will receive your permit.
Click Here to visit the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles website to find more detailed information about learner's permits and driver's licenses-including junior drivers and the graduated licensing law.
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What is the procedure for buying or selling a handgun?
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Any time you buy or sell a handgun you must come to the pistol license office in person to add or remove the gun from your license. Whether it is a private sale or a sale through a dealer a receipt must be provided for review by the pistol permit office. Click HERE to find more detailed information including laws and regulations.
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Can anyone do work on my house or must they be licensed?
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The answer to this question will depend upon the type of work being done. Whenever possible, it is best to use a licensed contractor. For specific information about what licenses will be required of the contractor working on your home, contact the building department of the specific municipality in which you live. Click Here for a list of municipal contacts.
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What permits and/or approvals are required for me to add a bedroom to my home?
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Most home alterations require a building permit from your town. Towns require Dutchess County Department of Health approval prior to issuance of a building permit. If your lot is approved, check the approval to see what conditions are required for your septic system for the total number of bedrooms in your home and addition. If your lot is not approved or your approval is for fewer bedrooms than you desire, you will have to get a new approval. Click Here for more information regarding building permits, certificates of occupancy and lot approvals.
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Do I need a building permit to install a pool? Am I required to put a fence around it?
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You need a building permit to install any pool capable of holding 24 or more inches of water, even if it is a temporary inflatable pool, you are required to put a fence around it.
The residential code of New York State (Appendix G, Sections AG101 through AG105) contains numerous very specific and stringent requirements for pool fencing, gates and locks—including specific rules about the exact measurement that fence openings can be, what kind of latching mechanisms the gate must have, the direction that the gate must swing, the spacing requirements for decorative cutouts, the grading of the land area around the fence, and much more.
To make sure that you are in compliance with state law, contact your local building inspector or code enforcement officer prior to installation of any pool.
Contact your municipality for the name and number of your local building inspector or code enforcement officer. Click Here for a list of contacts.
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Do I need a permit to operate a hot dog truck and where can I park it?
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Yes, this is considered a mobile food service facility and it does require a permit from the Dutchess County Department of Health. Contact the Environmental Services Division of the Department of Health at (845) 486-3404 and ask to speak with a Public Health Sanitarian for the specific permit requirements for your hot dog truck: To find out where you can park your hot dog truck, contact the appropriate municipality. Click Here for a list of municipal contacts.
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Do I need a permit to set off fireworks?
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Each municipality has its own regulations and requirements regarding what is required to set off fireworks (ex. type of insurance involved, application process, etc.). Contact the appropriate municipality to find out specific information. Click Here to access municipality contact information.
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Are there any regulations regarding the location and height of fences and walls?
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Some municipalities place restrictions on the maximum height of fences and walls. Additionally, they may require that these structures be placed at a certain distance from useable windows for fire safety reasons. You will need to check with the building/zoning department of the municipality where the structure will be located to determine what regulations apply and also whether a permit for construction is required. Click Here for municipality contact information.
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Do I need a permit to hold a garage sale?
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Each municipality has its own regulations regarding the holding of garage sales and whether or not a permit is required. Please check with your municipal clerk's office to detemine the laws governing your area. Click Here for a list of local municipal contact numbers.
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I just moved to Dutchess County. How do I register my vehicle?
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To register your vehicle in Dutchess County, visit your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). To expedite your visit, you can download an “E-ZVisit” form to complete before you visit the DMV. Click Here to find out what documents you will need to bring to the DMV office when you go there to register your vehicle, and also to download the "E-ZVisit" form. Click Here for the location and hours of your local DMV office.
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How do I register and title a motorcycle?
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The process to register and title a motorcycle is much the same as that of an automobile. Regulations vary, however, depending on whether the vehicle was purchased from a dealer or from a private party, whether the vehicle was purchased out-of-state, whether the vehicle is leased, etc. Generally, you must present the following items at your local NYS DMV office:
- Proof of ownership
- Odometer and Damage Disclosure Statements (if previously owned)
- New York State Insurance Identification Card (FS-20)
- Proof of your identity and date of birth
- Form MV-82 (Vehicle Registration / Title Application)
- Payment
- Proof of sales tax payment, sales tax exemption, or purchase price
For further information, please visit the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles Vehicle Registration & Title webpage or contact the Dutchess County Clerk's Office; click Here to access local contact information. If you wish to obtain information regarding motorcycle licenses, click Here to visit the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles web page.
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What is the procedure for opening a food service facility?
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The procedure for opening a food service facility and the permits, fees and inspections required will depend upon the type and size of the facility that you are opening. For specific requirements, call the Environmental Health Services Division of the Dutchess County Department of Health at (845) 486-3404 and ask to speak with the Public Health Sanitarian for the municipality in which the facility will be located. Click Here to access a table of fees for various types and sizes of permitted facilities.
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What is the procedure for becoming incorporated?
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In order to form a business corporation in New York State, you must file a Certificate of Incorporation with the Department of State. Click Here to download the Certificate of Incorporation Form (.pdf). The completed form must be mailed, along with the appropriate filing fees and taxes, to the Department of State, Division of Corporations, 41 State Street, Albany, NY 12231. Click Here for complete information and instructions regarding selecting/reserving a name for your corporation and for the procedures, laws and regulations regarding the formation of a corporation in New York State. For more information, call a corporation specialist at the Department of State: (518) 473-2492.
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Printable version
Licenses and Permits