Plenty of people who live in Lake Grove think of themselves as living in Brookhaven, and in a broad sense they do. But the Village of Lake Grove is an incorporated village with its own government, its own code and its own Building Department. When it comes to permits for a driveway, a patio or a set of steps, that difference matters.
If you're planning a paver patio or driveway in Lake Grove, here is what the Village code says, with section numbers so you can read it yourself. Anything the code doesn't settle, like current fees or how long review takes, is a question for Village Hall.
First: are you actually in the Village?
The Village has defined boundaries. A Lake Grove mailing address doesn't automatically mean your property is inside them, and a property near the Village line may fall under the Town of Brookhaven instead. Check your tax bill or your survey, or call the Village to confirm before you pick which office to apply to.
If you are outside the Village, the Town process applies instead. Our post on Brookhaven driveway apron permits covers the Town side of driveway work.
Who runs permits in the Village
The Village code is published online at ecode360. Chapter 65, Building Construction, sets up the Village Building Department. Section 65-3 says administration of the code rests with the Building Department of the Village of Lake Grove, and that the Building Inspector receives applications for permits, reviews plans and grants permits.
Section 65-3 also creates a Code Enforcement Office with authority over the state's Uniform Code and Energy Code within the Village. In plain terms, the Village, not the Town, is your building department.
What the Village says about driveways
Two parts of the code speak directly to driveways.
Chapter 65: approval for new or changed driveways
In section 65-4, the code says no driveway is to be added or an existing driveway altered in size or location, and no additional curb cut added, unless approved by the Building Inspector or Planning Board.
That covers more than a new driveway. Widening an existing one, moving it, or adding a second curb cut for a circular drive all fall under it.
Chapter 175: permits and the 25% front yard cap
The zoning chapter adds the second piece. Section 175-57, Building Permits, says that altering the size or shape of parking areas or driveways, or adding them, requires a building permit.
The same section sets a limit. The total area of asphalt, gravel, stone, dirt or other non-vegetative material used mainly for parking or as a driveway can't exceed 25% of the primary front yard of a residential lot.
This is the rule most likely to affect a design. A wider driveway, a parking pad beside it, or a paver apron that runs across the front of the house all count toward that 25%. Measure before you design. Note also that section 175-57 was amended in 2025 (L.L. No. 6-2025), so read the current version on ecode360 or ask the Building Department to confirm it.
What about patios?
The driveway rules above don't mention patios by name. That doesn't mean a patio never needs a permit. It means the answer depends on the project and on how the Village applies its code. Things that may make a difference:
- Height and steps. A patio raised above grade with steps, a seat wall or a retaining wall is closer to a structure than a flat at-grade patio.
- Drainage and grading. Chapter 65 has separate articles on grading and drainage. A large hard surface changes where water goes.
- Attachments. Pergolas, outdoor kitchens, gas lines and lighting circuits may each bring their own permit requirements.
- Pools. The Village posts separate pool permit filing instructions. A patio built as part of a pool project should be reviewed with that application.
Call or visit the Village Building Department with a sketch and ask directly. That's faster than guessing and much cheaper than removing work later.
Paperwork the Village posts
The Village's online forms page lists, among others:
- Building permit application
- Residential Building Permit Filing Requirements
- Pool Permit Filing Instructions
- Commercial Building Permit Filing Requirements
Read the residential filing requirements before you apply, and expect to need a current survey of the property.
Fees and timing
Section 65-6 says fees are set by the Village fee schedule (Appendix chapter A180), and that no permit is issued until the fee is paid. We don't list amounts here, because they change by resolution of the Board of Trustees. Ask the Village for the current schedule.
Section 65-4 sets the timing rules once you have a permit. It becomes invalid if work isn't substantially started within six months, and it expires one year after it's issued. You can renew it for up to two one-year extensions, but the extension application must be filed before the permit expires.
A short planning order for Lake Grove projects
- Confirm you're inside Village limits.
- Pull your survey and measure the primary front yard.
- Add up existing driveway, parking and other hard surface in that yard.
- Sketch the new layout and check it against the 25% cap.
- Bring the sketch to the Building Department and ask what approvals the project needs: building permit, Building Inspector approval, or Planning Board.
- Apply with the filing requirements and pay the fee.
- Schedule work so it starts within the permit's six-month window.
Related reading
For the Town of Brookhaven version of this process, see when you need a Highway Work Permit for a driveway apron. If your patio plans include a pool surround, read checking pool deck joints before winter. More about the Village is on our Lake Grove area page.
Planning a patio, walkway or driveway inside the Village? Call JDG Concrete & Construction at (631) 672-1618 or request a quote. We're licensed in Suffolk County (HI-68303) and can help you lay out a design that fits the Village rules before you apply.
Frequently asked questions
Do I get my permit from the Town of Brookhaven or the Village of Lake Grove?
If your property is inside the incorporated Village of Lake Grove, the Village code places administration of building permits with the Village Building Department. Confirm your property is inside Village limits, since a Lake Grove mailing address alone doesn't guarantee it.
Do I need a permit to widen my driveway in Lake Grove?
The Village zoning code (section 175-57) says altering the size or shape of a driveway or parking area, or adding one, requires a building permit. Chapter 65 also says no driveway may be added or altered, and no curb cut added, without approval of the Building Inspector or Planning Board.
Is there a limit on how much of my front yard can be driveway?
Yes. Section 175-57 caps asphalt, gravel, stone, dirt or other non-vegetative surface used mainly for parking or driveway at 25% of the primary front yard of a residential lot. The section was amended in 2025, so check the current text.
Does a backyard paver patio need a Village permit?
The driveway sections don't mention patios specifically. Whether a patio needs a permit can depend on its size, height, attachments like steps or walls, and grading or drainage changes. Ask the Village Building Department before you build.
How long is a Lake Grove building permit good for?
Under chapter 65, a permit becomes invalid if work isn't substantially started within six months, and it expires one year after issuance. It can be renewed for up to two one-year extensions, with a fee for each.
