Columbia County
Town of Austerlitz, NY: zoning for new construction
Residential lots in the Town of Austerlitz run from a 1-acre minimum in Agricultural-Hamlet up to 2 acres in Rural Residential, across 3 zoning districts in all. Short-term rentals allowed with local rules. Power here is NYSEG territory. The district table below has the setbacks, height limits and coverage - confirm the specifics with the building department at (518) 392-3260 before you rely on a figure.
Looking specifically at an accessory dwelling unit? See ADU rules for Austerlitz →
Zoning districts
| District | Min lot | Setbacks F / S / R | Max height | ADU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agricultural-Hamlet | 1 ac | 30 / 10 / 15 ft | 40 ft | As of right |
| Main Street-Hamlet | 1 ac | 15 / 10 / 15 ft | 40 ft | As of right |
| Rural Residential | 2 ac | 30 / 20 / 30 ft | 40 ft | As of right |
Agricultural-Hamlet - A lot in A-H also needs at least 50 ft of lot frontage, a requirement separate from the minimum lot width.
- § 195-15 Table A sets no coverage limit for this district.
Main Street-Hamlet - A lot in MS-H also needs at least 50 ft of lot frontage, a requirement separate from the minimum lot width.
- § 195-15 Table A sets no coverage limit for this district.
Rural Residential - A lot in RR also needs at least 75 ft of lot frontage, a requirement separate from the 100 ft minimum lot width.
- The dimensional table sets no coverage limit for this district.
Short-term rentals
Short-term rentals allowed with local rules. A short-term rental in Austerlitz needs an STR permit issued by the Code Enforcement Officer. The requirement comes from Local Law No. 2 of 2025, which amended the zoning code.
Conditions the code attaches:
- Confirm the permit process with the building department at (518) 392-3260.
Good to know
- UtilityNYSEG territory.
- Zoning codeTown of Austerlitz Zoning, Chapter 195, Article V, § 195-15 Table A: Dimensional Requirements
- Building dept(518) 392-3260
- Last reviewed2026-06-02
Working out a budget? A standard-finish build here runs $202–$265/sq ft , and a conforming lot adds about $10,362 on top - see the full cost to build a house in Austerlitz, or what an ADU costs here.
Sizing up a specific parcel in Austerlitz?
Aldo pulls the exact zoning district, setbacks, and build feasibility for any parcel — before you buy. Enter your email to open Aldo and run your free report.
Other Columbia County towns
All Columbia County zoning: Hudson (City) · Ancram · Canaan · Chatham · Claverack · Clermont · Copake · Gallatin · Germantown · Ghent · Hillsdale · Kinderhook · Livingston · New Lebanon · Stockport · Stuyvesant · Taghkanic · Chatham (Village) · Kinderhook (Village) · Philmont (Village) · Valatie (Village)
Zoning figures for Town of Austerlitz are compiled from the municipal code (last reviewed 2026-06-02) and provided for decision-support only - not legal, engineering, or architectural advice. Setback and dimensional standards often carry conditions and exceptions; verify with the building department at (518) 392-3260 before relying on any number. Source: the Offsite / Aldo zoning dataset.