CANTON — A state Supreme Court hearing today to order two Amish families from their homes has been delayed until Sept. 5.

The town of Hammond asked that the families of Joseph J. Swartzentruber of 175 County Route 1 and Henry D. Mast of 563 Route 37 be forbidden to live in their homes while the court considers a lawsuit the town has brought against them for building without permits.

The hearing was adjourned at the request of Steven G. Ballan, the St. Lawrence County assistant public defender who has been representing Amish men charged with building or moving homes in Hammond and Morristown without permits. Mr. Ballan, who cannot represent Mr. Swartzentruber and Mr. Mast in this civil matter, requested a delay to obtain attorneys for the men.

Building permit violation charges against Mr. Swartzentruber and Mr. Mast were dismissed in April because the citations lacked paperwork.

Code Enforcement Officer James R. Gleason sent letters in mid-June ordering that they obtain permits by the end of the month. They were rejected because they filed incomplete applications. The men are part of the Swartzentruber sect, one of the Amish faith's most strict. They do not deny the charges. They say requirements for smoke alarms and engineer-approved plans violate their right to freely exercise their religion.