ADU · Columbia County
Can you build an ADU in Austerlitz, NY?
Town of Austerlitz has 3 districts. All districts allow ADUs. Check your address to confirm the district that applies to your parcel:
What the Austerlitz code says
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.
Conditions the code attaches:
- The unit can be inside the house or its attached garage, or in an approved detached accessory structure on the same lot.
- It must have its own entrance and independent living facilities for one or two persons.
- No more than one accessory dwelling unit is allowed per single-family residential lot.
- The lot needs adequate parking for two additional vehicles.
- The unit must meet all setbacks and is subject to no additional density requirement.
- A micro-home on the premises of a single-family dwelling counts as an accessory dwelling unit and must meet the same requirements.
What the Austerlitz code indicates by district
The table below shows how each district treats ADUs, alongside the lot and setback standards that govern a second unit. District boundaries and conditions vary, so treat this as a starting point and confirm the district that applies to your parcel.
| 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.
ADUs vs. short-term rentals in Austerlitz
Short-term rentals allowed with local rules for Town of Austerlitz. 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. These are separate questions from whether you can build an ADU — a unit you're allowed to add isn't automatically one you're allowed to rent nightly, so check both.
Good to know
- Residential lot minimum1–2 ac — an ADU still has to fit the district's lot and setback envelope.
- UtilityNYSEG territory.
- Zoning codeecode360.com/14711110
- Building dept(518) 392-3260
ADU FAQ — Austerlitz, NY
Are ADUs allowed in Austerlitz, NY?
Town of Austerlitz has 3 districts. All districts allow ADUs. Check your address with the free ADU checker, or confirm with the building department at (518) 392-3260.
Do I need a special permit for an ADU in Austerlitz?
No district in Town of Austerlitz requires a special-use permit for an ADU - 3 districts allow ADUs. Site-plan review or a building permit may still apply.
Can I use an ADU as a short-term rental in Austerlitz?
Short-term rentals allowed with local rules for Town of Austerlitz. ADU occupancy and short-term-rental rules are separate: an ADU you can build isn't automatically one you can rent nightly. Confirm both before you count on STR income.
What an ADU costs to build in Austerlitz
Permission is one question and budget is another. An 800 sq ft accessory unit here runs roughly $195k–260k at a standard finish, and the per-square-foot rate comes in above a full house because the kitchen, bath, panel and heating plant cost the same either way. See the full cost to build an ADU in Austerlitz, priced by size.
How we know this
- Sections analyzed
- § 195-12 (Schedule of Use Regulations) · § 195-58 · § 195-15 Table A
- Districts confirmed
- 3 of 3 — every mapped district.
- Last reviewed
- Not covered here
- Overlay districts, the zoning map, and any conditions attached to an individual parcel. Size limits and owner-occupancy terms sit in the code section above, not in this summary.
More on Austerlitz: Full zoning for new construction · ADU build cost · House build cost · ADU rules across Columbia County · All Columbia County towns
ADU information for Town of Austerlitz is compiled from the municipal code (last reviewed 2026-06-02) and provided for decision-support only — not legal or architectural advice. ADU eligibility, size, owner-occupancy and permit conditions vary by district and often carry exceptions; verify with the building department at (518) 392-3260 before relying on any answer. Source: the Offsite / Aldo zoning dataset.