Scottsville · ADU cost
What it costs to build an ADU in Scottsville, NY
An 800 sq ft accessory dwelling unit in Scottsville runs roughly $200k–260k, or about $249–327/sq ft, and that per-square-foot figure sits deliberately above the $204–268/sq ft a full house costs here. An ADU still needs one whole kitchen, one whole bath, its own service panel and its own heating plant no matter how small you draw it, and those costs do not shrink with the floor plan, so they land on half the square footage and push the rate up. Whether the village will let you build one is a separate question from what it costs, and it gets answered parcel by parcel rather than townwide, since the Village of Scottsville maps 5 districts that treat accessory units differently from one another, so read the table below as a starting point rather than a verdict.
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ADU cost by size in Scottsville
Standard finish, slab on grade, on a flat and clear part of the lot, general-contractor margin included. These are structure costs at Monroe County pricing, before the service and septic work a second dwelling can trigger.
| Size | Type | $ / sq ft | Estimated total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 400 sq ft | Studio | $331–$433 | $130k–175k |
| 600 sq ft | One bedroom | $276–$362 | $165k–215k |
| 800 sq ft | One bedroom, larger | $249–$327 | $200k–260k |
| 1,000 sq ft | Two bedroom | $233–$305 | $235k–305k |
400 sq ft — One room plus a bath. Garage conversions and small backyard cottages land here.
600 sq ft — The most common detached build - a real bedroom, full kitchen, one bath.
800 sq ft — Room for a proper living area. Still a single bath and one kitchen.
1,000 sq ft — About as large as most codes allow an accessory unit to go.
Why the rate is higher than a house
The systems below are priced for an 800 sq ft unit. The middle column is what each system would cost if it simply shrank with the floor plan; the left column is what it actually costs once you account for the equipment a dwelling needs one of regardless of size. The gap between the two columns is the whole reason small builds price the way they do.
| System | $ / sq ft in an ADU | If it scaled with floor area | Fixed per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Site work | $7–$11 | $7 | — |
| Foundation | $16–$23 | $16 | — |
| Framing | $25–$32 | $25 | — |
| Envelope - roof, siding, windows | $32–$41 | $32 | — |
| Plumbing | $28–$34 | $16 | 55% |
| Electrical | $18–$24 | $13 | 35% |
| HVAC | $23–$28 | $15 | 45% |
| Insulation | $7–$9 | $7 | — |
| Interior finishes | $32–$43 | $27 | 15% |
| Millwork & cabinetry | $18–$28 | $11 | 55% |
The fixed-per-unit share is a modeling assumption, not a figure from the code: it is our estimate of how much of each system's budget buys equipment a dwelling needs exactly one of - a kitchen rough-in, a bath group, a service panel, a heating plant - and therefore does not shrink when the unit does. Site work, foundation, framing, envelope and insulation are treated as scaling straight with floor area, which understates the premium slightly, because a small building carries more envelope per square foot of floor than a large one.
What the Scottsville code says about accessory units
Whether you can build one, and how large, is decided by the district your parcel sits in rather than by the town as a whole. The table shows how each mapped district treats ADUs alongside the lot and setback standards a second unit still has to fit inside. District boundaries and conditions vary, so treat it as a starting point and confirm the district that applies to your parcel.
| District | Min lot | Setbacks F / S / R | Max height | ADU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| One-Family Residential 16 | 0.37 ac | 50 / 12 / 35 ft | 35 ft | Special permit |
| One-Family Residential 12 | 0.28 ac | 50 / 10 / 30 ft | 35 ft | Special permit |
| One-Family Residential 6 | 0.14 ac | 30 / 10 / 30 ft | 35 ft | Special permit |
| Residential Attached 1-4 | 0.092 ac | 50 / 0 / 30 ft | 35 ft | No |
| Residential Multifamily | 0.28 ac | 50 / 30 / 30 ft | 35 ft | No |
One-Family Residential 16 - Every figure shown is a default: the lot area, width, yards, height and coverage may each be displaced by the most common figure on the block where the lot sits. A parcel-specific answer needs the block, not just the district.
- The minimum lot area more than doubles without public sewer: 40,000 sq ft against the 16,000 sq ft serviced figure, and it applies to a nonresidential lot too, which owes a 15 ft side yard.
- Where public sewerage is not available, no lot may be built upon that lacks space for a private sanitary waste disposal system as determined by the Monroe County Department of Health.
- A two-storey house needs at least 800 sq ft of ground floor, and anything over one storey needs 1,600 sq ft in total.
- A garage setback of 10 ft, measured from the front building line, applies to all dwelling units.
- A two-family dwelling by conversion needs a special permit, and the district's own figures govern it.
- Accessory structures need 5 ft side and 10 ft rear yards and have a 20 ft height cap.
One-Family Residential 12 - Every figure shown is a default: the lot area, width, yards, height and coverage may each be displaced by the most common figure on the block where the lot sits. A parcel-specific answer needs the block, not just the district.
- Nonresidential uses take the same 12,000 sq ft and 80 ft of width as a house, with a 15 ft side yard against the residential 10 ft and a 35 ft rear against 30 ft.
- A two-storey house needs at least 650 sq ft of ground floor, and anything over one storey needs 1,000 sq ft in total.
- A garage setback of 10 ft, measured from the front building line, applies here.
- A two-family dwelling by conversion needs a special permit, and the district's own figures govern it.
- Accessory structures need 5 ft side and 10 ft rear yards and have a 20 ft height cap.
One-Family Residential 6 - R1-6 is the only district where a two-family dwelling can be built new, by special permit under Article IX, on the same 6,000 sq ft as a one-family house.
- Nonresidential uses take double the lot, 12,000 sq ft against 6,000, with a 50 ft front yard against the residential 30 ft and a 15 ft side yard against 10 ft.
- Every figure shown is a default: the lot area, width, yards, height and coverage may each be displaced by the most common figure on the block where the lot sits.
- A two-family dwelling by conversion also needs a special permit, and the district's own figures govern it.
- A two-storey house needs at least 650 sq ft of ground floor, and anything over one storey needs 1,000 sq ft in total.
- Accessory structures need 5 ft side and 10 ft rear yards and have a 20 ft height cap.
Residential Attached 1-4 - A one-family attached dwelling is the only dwelling permitted by right here, and a one-family detached house needs a special permit; the figures shown answer for both. Under § 170-17 the minimum lot frontage at the street line is 22 ft.
- Nonresidential uses take three times the lot, 12,000 sq ft against 4,000, on the same 26 ft of width, with a 15 ft side yard where a dwelling owes none.
- The lot area, width, yards, height and coverage may each be displaced by the most common figure on the block where the lot sits.
- An accessory dwelling unit and a bed-and-breakfast are not available in this district.
- A two-family dwelling by conversion needs a special permit, and the district's own figures govern it.
- A two-storey house needs at least 650 sq ft of ground floor, and anything over one storey needs 1,000 sq ft in total.
- Accessory structures need 5 ft side and 10 ft rear yards and have a 20 ft height cap.
Residential Multifamily - The figures shown are for a one-family detached house, which needs a special permit here; RM is the only district permitting multifamily, and a multifamily scheme takes the larger 16,000 sq ft minimum lot. The 30 ft side yard applies to residential and nonresidential uses alike.
- Nonresidential uses take the same 12,000 sq ft, 100 ft of width, 50 ft front and 30 ft side as a house, with a 35 ft rear yard against the residential 30 ft.
- The lot area, width, yards, height and coverage may each be displaced by the most common figure on the block where the lot sits.
- Accessory structures take a 15 ft side yard here, a 10 ft rear yard and a 20 ft height cap.
- A two-family dwelling by conversion needs a special permit, and the district's own figures govern it.
- A two-storey house needs at least 650 sq ft of ground floor, and anything over one storey needs 1,000 sq ft in total.
Size limits on record in Scottsville
Where the code states a size cap, it decides which row of the cost table above actually applies to you. These are the caps recorded for Scottsville:
- One-Family Residential 16Each unit of a converted house needs at least 650 sq ft for zero or one bedroom, 800 for two, 950 for three and 1,100 for four, with no more than four bedrooms in all.
- One-Family Residential 12Each unit of a converted house needs at least 650 sq ft for zero or one bedroom, 800 for two, 950 for three and 1,100 for four, with no more than four bedrooms in all.
- One-Family Residential 6Each unit of a converted house needs at least 650 sq ft for zero or one bedroom, 800 for two, 950 for three and 1,100 for four, with no more than four bedrooms in all.
- Residential Attached 1-4Each unit of a converted house needs at least 650 sq ft for zero or one bedroom, 800 for two, 950 for three and 1,100 for four, with no more than four bedrooms in all.
- Residential MultifamilyEach unit of a converted house needs at least 650 sq ft for zero or one bedroom, 800 for two, 950 for three and 1,100 for four, with no more than four bedrooms in all.
Costs an ADU adds that a house does not
- Septic and water A second dwelling adds bedrooms to the design flow, which on an unsewered parcel often means expanding or replacing the existing system rather than tapping it. This is the single most common reason an ADU budget moves after design, and it is site-specific enough that no model should quote it - get it evaluated early.
- Utility service RG&E territory. A detached unit needs power run to it, and whether it goes on its own meter or subfeeds the main house changes both the cost and the permit path.
- Access and parking Many codes require an added parking space for the accessory unit, and a detached unit usually needs a driveway extension or a path, both of which count against a lot-coverage or impervious-surface cap.
- Short-term rentalsNo local short-term-rental law on record - which is not the same as permission. The Village of Scottsville has no local short-term rental law, and that is not the same as permission: its zoning use table is a closed list with no short-term rental use. Confirm with Code Enforcement before counting on the use. Separate question from whether you can build the unit.
- Zoning codeecode360.com/12255670
- Building dept(585) 889-6050
Sizing up a specific parcel in Scottsville?
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.
Building a full house instead?
A standard-finish house in Scottsville runs $204–268/sq ft, about $370k–480k at 1,800 sq ft . See what it costs to build a house in Scottsville.
ADU cost in nearby towns
All Monroe County towns: Rochester (City) · Brighton · Chili · Clarkson · Gates · Greece · Hamlin · Henrietta · Irondequoit · Mendon · Ogden · Parma · Penfield · Perinton · Pittsford · Riga · Rush · Sweden · Webster · Wheatland · East Rochester (Village) · Brockport (Village) · Churchville (Village) · Fairport (Village) · Hilton (Village) · Honeoye Falls (Village) · Pittsford (Village) · Spencerport (Village) · Webster (Village)
More on Scottsville: Can you build an ADU here? · Zoning for new construction · Monroe County build cost
ADU cost in Scottsville: common questions
How much does it cost to build an ADU in Scottsville, NY?
An 800 sq ft accessory dwelling unit in Village of Scottsville runs roughly $200k–260k at a standard finish, general-contractor margin included. A 400 sq ft studio runs about $130k–175k. Those are structure costs on an easy site and do not include the septic, water or electrical service work a second unit often triggers.
Why does an ADU cost more per square foot than a house in Scottsville?
Because a lot of a dwelling's cost is per dwelling, not per square foot. One kitchen, one bath group, one service panel and one heating plant cost about the same in an 800 sq ft cottage as in a 1,800 sq ft house, so on the smaller unit they get spread over less than half the floor area. That is why an ADU here prices at $249–327/sq ft against $204–268/sq ft for a full house, even though it is the same trades doing the same work.
Are ADUs allowed in Scottsville?
Village of Scottsville has 5 districts. 3 districts allow ADUs with a special-use permit, 2 do not. Check the specific address with the free ADU checker or confirm with the building department at (585) 889-6050 before you spend money on design.
Can I rent an ADU in Scottsville short term?
No local short-term-rental law on record - which is not the same as permission for Village of Scottsville. ADU rules and short-term-rental rules are set separately, so a unit you are allowed to build is not automatically one you are allowed to rent nightly. Confirm both before you underwrite the build on short-term-rental income.
ADU costs are modeled estimates in current 2026 dollars at the Monroe County regional index, general-contractor margin included, derived from Offsite's cost engine with a stated adjustment for the equipment a dwelling needs one of regardless of size. They are planning numbers for decision-support only - not a bid, quote, or guarantee, and not legal, architectural or engineering advice. They cover the structure and exclude septic expansion, utility service runs, site work beyond a flat and clear pad, and permit fees. ADU eligibility, size, owner-occupancy and permit conditions in the Village of Scottsville vary by district and often carry exceptions this page does not show; zoning last reviewed 2026-08-13; verify with the building department at (585) 889-6050 before relying on any answer. Sources: the Offsite / Aldo cost engine and zoning dataset.