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ADU · Columbia County

Are ADUs allowed in Columbia County, NY?

There is no county-wide answer. In New York an accessory dwelling unit is governed by the town, city or village — so the rule changes at every municipal line, and often between districts inside one town. Below is each of the 22 municipalities in Columbia County, with what its zoning districts actually say.

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ADU rules by municipality in Columbia County

Can you build an ADU in Hudson, NY?

All districts allow ADUs with occupancy restrictions.

An accessory dwelling unit is permitted in every district, but only as accessory to a one-family dwelling. The owner must live on the parcel when applying and keep a primary domicile in the house or ADU for at least 12 continuous months after its certificate of occupancy.

Ch. 325 Zoning: Art II Zoning Districts and Map; Art III District Use Regulations; Art IV District Bulk and Parking Regulations; Art V § 325-22 (A, B, H, I) and § 325-22.1 Accessory dwelling units (added 8-11-2025 by L.L. No. 3-2025) A(1)(a)-(j), A(2)(a)-(b), A(3); Art VI; 325 Attachments 1 and 2 Reviewed 2026-06-02 Full Hudson ADU rules →

Can you build an ADU in Ancram, NY?

8 districts allow ADUs, 1 does not.

An accessory apartment within an existing structure is a permitted use in all districts except I-1, where accessory units are prohibited. An apartment in a new addition or a free-standing accessory dwelling is permitted with abbreviated site plan review.

Art. III § A (Use Table) · Art. V § A.1.a · Art. VII § G.1.b Reviewed 2026-06-02 Full Ancram ADU rules →

Can you build an ADU in Austerlitz, NY?

All districts allow ADUs.

An accessory dwelling unit is allowed everywhere in Austerlitz once its site plan is approved, with no owner-occupancy requirement. It may not exceed one-half the living space of the single-family house or 1,000 square feet, whichever is less.

§ 195-12 (Schedule of Use Regulations) · § 195-58 · § 195-15 Table A Reviewed 2026-06-02 Full Austerlitz ADU rules →

Can you build an ADU in Canaan, NY?

7 districts allow ADUs, 3 require a special-use permit.

An accessory dwelling unit is permitted by right in RA-1-2, RA-1-5, RA-2-2, RA-2-5, RA-3-2, RA-3-5 and RA-4, and by special permit in C-1, C-2 and C-3. A newly built unattached unit needs a lot of at least five acres.

2017 Town of Canaan Zoning Laws (6/2/2017): Art II Definitions (dwelling, accessory; building, accessory; bed and breakfast); Art III Establishment of Districts A-C; Art VI Use Regulations Section B, its key and closed-list rule, residential uses and general uses blocks, one-dwelling-per-lot and 35 ft height limits; site plan review provisions and their accessory-dwelling carve-outs; Appendix I Zoning Map Reviewed 2026-06-02 Full Canaan ADU rules →

Can you build an ADU in Chatham, NY?

6 districts allow ADUs, 1 does not.

An accessory dwelling unit of up to 1,200 sq ft, attached or detached, is permitted by right in H-1, H-2, RL-1, RL-2, RL-3 and B, with no owner-occupancy requirement. It may not be used as a short-term rental for 10 years from approval.

Ch. 180 Zoning: Art III §§ 180-9 to 180-16.1 (district objectives and the H-1, H-2, RL-1, RL-2, RL-3, B and I tables); Art IV § 180-17 Site plan review, § 180-23.3 Accessory dwelling units (added 3-20-2025 by L.L. No. 3-2025) A, B(1)-(2), C(1), D(1)-(8), E(1)-(9), F(1); Art V § 180-26 height, § 180-30 parking; Ch. 170 § 170-28 Single Lot Exemptions Reviewed 2026-08-16 Full Chatham ADU rules →

Can you build an ADU in Claverack, NY?

7 districts allow ADUs with a special-use permit, 2 do not.

An accessory apartment needs a special exception in every district but MHP and CIP, and the owner must live in one of the two units. Separately, a one-family detached house can be converted to a two-family by right in RC, RR, RA and HR and by special exception in HB and HB-1.

L.L. No. 3 of 2015 Table 1 Schedule of Use Regulations, rows A.6, A.10 and A.11; § 5.1.1; Table 2 and § 6.3.1; § 15.3.1; § 15.3.7; § 2.2 and § 2.62 definitions Reviewed 2026-08-16 Full Claverack ADU rules →

Can you build an ADU in Clermont, NY?

All districts allow ADUs with a special-use permit.

An accessory apartment is allowed in every Clermont district with a special use permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals. The owner must live in either the main house or the apartment, and there is no bar on renting the unit.

Zoning Law § 3.21 Table of Scheduled Uses, Accessory Apartment and 2-Single-Family rows; § 4.14.20 Accessory Apartment standards Reviewed 2026-08-16 Full Clermont ADU rules →

Can you build an ADU in Copake, NY?

All districts allow ADUs.

An ADU is allowed in any district on the Building Inspector's approval alone, with no site plan review or special use permit, if the applicant certifies it will be used only for nontransient occupancy for five years after its certificate of occupancy.

Ch. 232 Zoning: Art II § 232-3 Terminology (accessory dwelling unit); Art III Establishment of Districts; Art IV District Regulations; Art V § 232-8; Art VI § 232-16.1 Accessory dwelling unit (am. 9-5-2023 by L.L. No. 10-2023) A-C, § 232-16.8 Short-term rentals; 232 Attachment 1 Table 1 Density Control Schedule; 232 Attachment 2 Table 2 Table of Use Regulations (am. through L.L. No. 11-2023) and key Reviewed 2026-06-02 Full Copake ADU rules →

Can you build an ADU in Gallatin, NY?

3 districts allow ADUs with a special-use permit, 1 does not.

An accessory dwelling unit is not permitted in H. In the town's other districts it needs a special use permit with site plan approval, and under § 5.2 it must be between 400 and 900 square feet with no more than two bedrooms, with the owner occupying one of the units.

Zoning Law District Schedule of Use Regulations, Accessory Uses block and legend; § 5.2 Accessory Dwelling Unit incl. § 5.2.C and § 5.2.D; § 5.14 ECHO Housing; § 4.5 Reviewed 2026-08-16 Full Gallatin ADU rules →

Can you build an ADU in Germantown, NY?

6 districts allow ADUs with a special-use permit, 1 does not.

One accessory apartment is allowed per single-family dwelling, up to 800 square feet, with a special permit in NR, AR, RR, HR, HMU and HC. It is prohibited in BD.

Zoning & Subdivision Law (2011) Schedule A Permitted Uses, Accessory Structures and Uses heading; Art. IV § C.3.b Accessory Apartments; Art. VI.D ECHO units; definitions Reviewed 2026-08-16 Full Germantown ADU rules →

Can you build an ADU in Ghent, NY?

5 districts prohibit ADUs, 4 allow them.

A detached accessory dwelling is permitted outright in RRA-1, RRA-2, VR and HR, with no owner-occupancy requirement and no bar on renting it. It is prohibited in HB, VB, C-1, C-2 and C-3.

Ch. 190 Zoning (am. in its entirety 12-19-2019): Art I § 190-2 Definitions (accessory dwelling; in-law apartment; farm worker housing); Art II § 190-4; Art III § 190-5 General provisions, § 190-6 PRD; Art IV § 190-11; Art V § 190-21; Art VII § 190-27 Placement of accessory buildings and uses A(1)-(5), B(1)-(2), C; 190 Attachment 1 Appendix A Table of Use Regulations and key; 190 Attachment 2 Appendix B Reviewed 2026-06-02 Full Ghent ADU rules →

Can you build an ADU in Hillsdale, NY?

All districts allow ADUs with occupancy restrictions.

In a single-family home either the main unit or the accessory apartment must be owner-occupied, and one in an accessory structure must be on an owner-occupied property. It is allowed by right with at least three acres per unit in RU or one acre per unit in HM.

§ 245-15 (Use table) · § 245-25B · § 245-91 Reviewed 2026-06-02 Full Hillsdale ADU rules →

Can you build an ADU in Kinderhook, NY?

5 districts prohibit ADUs, 4 require a special-use permit.

An accessory apartment is allowed in AR, R-2, R-3 and H with a special use permit from the Planning Board, under § 250-30. The owner has to live in either the main house or the apartment. It is not permitted in B-1, B-1A, I-1, FP or MHP.

Ch. 250 Attachment 1 Use Regulation Table (amended through L.L. No. 1-2017, stamped 05-01-2018); § 250-30 (amended L.L. No. 2-2002 and 1-2014); § 250-50 site plan Reviewed 2026-08-16 Full Kinderhook ADU rules →

Can you build an ADU in Livingston, NY?

All districts allow ADUs.

An accessory apartment is permitted by right with Planning Board site plan review, but never in a new detached structure. It must be an addition to a one-family dwelling, a converted existing gatehouse, garage, barn or similar building, or inside a non-residential building.

Livingston Zoning Book, 2022 Update: Art I Definitions (accessory apartment; accessory building); the district use table, its key and the Section 6.7 site plan note; Art IV § 4.1 Accessory Apartments — 1 Intent, a(i)-(xii), b, c and d; § 4.2; § 4.27 parking; §§ 5.3 and 5.5 nonconforming provisions; § 6.7 site plan review Reviewed 2026-06-02 Full Livingston ADU rules →

Can you build an ADU in New Lebanon, NY?

4 districts allow ADUs, 2 do not, 2 require a special-use permit.

An ADU is permitted by right in RA-5, RA-2, RA-1 and C-R, needs a special use permit in C and CC, and is barred in C-Rec and C-I. On a parcel under twice the district minimum lot size it needs site plan review, unless it is wholly within the main building's existing footprint.

Ch. 205 Zoning: § 205-7B(9)(c); § 205-8 Supplementary regulations C, G and I Accessory dwelling units (added 8-8-2023 by L.L. No. 4-2023) (1)-(14); § 205-14 site plan review; § 205-20C Definitions (dwelling unit, accessory (ADU)), am. through L.L. No. 5-2025; 205 Attachment 1 Schedule I; 205 Attachment 2 Zoning Law Use Table (am. through 10-16-2025 by L.L. No. 5-2025) and key Reviewed 2026-06-02 Full New Lebanon ADU rules →

Can you build an ADU in Stockport, NY?

3 districts allow ADUs with occupancy restrictions, 1 does not.

In H, R and RR, an accessory apartment is allowed as an accessory use to a single-family dwelling with a Planning Board special use permit and site plan review. The owner has to live on the lot, in one of the two dwellings, so both units cannot be let.

120 Attachment 1 (Schedule of Use Regulations) · § 120-39Q · § 120-37 Reviewed 2026-07-15 Full Stockport ADU rules →

Can you build an ADU in Stuyvesant, NY?

5 districts allow ADUs with occupancy restrictions, 1 does not.

An accessory dwelling unit is permitted in the Hamlet 1, Hamlet 2, Agricultural and Hamlet Extension districts only if the owner lives in the house or the unit, so one of the two can be rented. The permission does not survive a sale to someone who will not live on the parcel.

Town of Stuyvesant Local Law No. 2 of 2025 (Accessory Apartment Dwelling Units, adopted 8-14-2025) as amended by Local Law No. 1 of 2026 (adopted 2-12-2026): Section 7 Supplemental Regulations — Accessory Apartment Dwelling unit, A Permits (1)-(2), B Applications (1)-(8), C Development standards (1)-(10). Town of Stuyvesant Zoning Law (adopted 9-6-2018, modified 4-14-2022): Section 3 Establishment of Districts; Section 4 Use Regulations, Residential Uses row "Accessory Apartment within Existing Structures" and Legend; Section 5 Density Control Schedule; Section 2 Definitions (Accessory Apartment); Pre-existing Accessory Apartment clause Reviewed 2026-06-02 Full Stuyvesant ADU rules →

Can you build an ADU in Taghkanic, NY?

All districts allow ADUs with occupancy restrictions.

An accessory dwelling unit is a permitted use in all districts, subject to site plan review and approval by the Planning Board. The owner must live in one of the units, under a deed restriction in favour of the Town that survives a sale.

L.L. No. 2 of 2024 § 3 · L.L. No. 2 of 2024 § 3(a) · L.L. No. 2 of 2024 § 3(b) Reviewed 2026-06-07 Full Taghkanic ADU rules →

Can you build an ADU in Chatham, NY?

3 districts prohibit ADUs, 3 require a special-use permit.

An accessory dwelling is allowed only by special use permit from the Planning Board, and only in R, SR and C-2. There is no by-right route anywhere in the village, and the use is prohibited in C-1, C-3 and I.

110 Attachment 1 (Table of Use Regulations) · § 110-5 · § 110-16 Reviewed 2026-06-02 Full Chatham ADU rules →

Can you build an ADU in Kinderhook, NY?

All districts prohibit ADUs.

The Village of Kinderhook zoning has no accessory dwelling unit use, and any use not on its list is not permitted. A two-family dwelling is permitted by right in A, AR, R-1, R and B-1.

§ 130-7 (Permitted Use Table) · § 130-2B · § 130-22 Reviewed 2026-06-02 Full Kinderhook ADU rules →

Can you build an ADU in Philmont, NY?

7 districts allow ADUs with a special-use permit, 4 do not.

An accessory apartment in a one-family dwelling needs a special permit in R, RLD, H-I, H-II, M, M-II and GB, and is not permitted in H-III, RHD, C or RSC. The owner must live in one of the units, and the building must be on municipal water and sewer.

Ch. 160 § 160-22 Accessory apartments; § 160-8D closed list; Table 2 Permitted Uses and Special Use Permits (160 Attachment 1, amended L.L. No. 1-2006 and 1-2010, stamped 08-01-2012) Reviewed 2026-08-16 Full Philmont ADU rules →

Can you build an ADU in Valatie, NY?

All districts prohibit ADUs.

The Valatie zoning code lists no accessory dwelling unit use, and a use it does not list is prohibited in every district. A second unit can be built as a two-family dwelling, by right in R-2 and B-1 or with a Zoning Board of Appeals special use permit in B-2.

§ 345-9 (Permitted uses; conditional uses) · § 345-27 · § 345-46 Reviewed 2026-08-16 Full Valatie ADU rules →

ADU questions people ask about Columbia County

Are ADUs allowed in Columbia County?

There is no single county-wide answer — ADUs are governed by each town, city and village, not by the county. Of the 22 Columbia County municipalities with mapped zoning districts, 20 allow an accessory dwelling unit in at least one district, and 8 allow one by right somewhere. The section for your municipality below gives the specific answer.

Does Columbia County issue ADU permits?

No. Zoning approval and building permits both come from the municipality — the town, city or village — not the county. County health departments do commonly review septic and water supply for a new dwelling unit, which is often the binding constraint on a rural lot.

What size ADU can I build in Columbia County?

Size caps are set per municipality and frequently per district, and they are one of the details most often stated wrongly by national ADU sites. Open your municipality's page below for the code sections analyzed, then confirm the current figure with the building department before you design to it.

What an ADU costs to build in Columbia County

Permission and budget are separate questions. See the Columbia County cost-to-build breakdown for current per-square-foot ranges — an accessory unit runs above a full house per square foot, because the kitchen, bath, panel and heating plant cost the same at any size.

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More on Columbia County: Zoning for new construction by town · Cost to build · ADU rules across every county we cover

ADU information for Columbia County is compiled from each municipality's own code , most recently reviewed 2026-08-16, and provided for decision-support only — not legal or architectural advice. Eligibility, size, owner-occupancy and permit conditions vary by district and often carry exceptions; confirm with the municipality before relying on any answer. Source: the Offsite / Aldo zoning dataset.

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