Can you build an ADU in Poughkeepsie, NY?

Residential Neighborhood A - The front setback is contextual: a building must sit within 2 ft of the average setback of the two lots on each side of it, and 25 ft applies only where that average does not govern. Density is capped at one primary dwelling unit per lot.

• The 60% coverage cap counts all impervious surfaces, so driveways and parking count against it, not just buildings.
• Side yard setbacks are not required at all on a lot less than 50 ft wide.
• A secondary street setback of 10 ft applies on a corner lot's second frontage.
• An accessory building or structure may not exceed 25 ft in height or stand in a primary or secondary street yard, and needs 5 ft inside a side or rear yard.

Residential Neighborhood B - Density is capped at two primary dwelling units per lot, plus one accessory dwelling unit. The front setback is contextual: within 2 ft of the average setback of the two lots on each side, with 20 ft applying where that average does not govern.

• The 60% coverage cap counts all impervious surfaces, so driveways and parking count against it, not just buildings.
• A secondary street setback of 10 ft applies on a corner lot's second frontage.
• An accessory building or structure may not exceed 25 ft in height or stand in a primary or secondary street yard, and needs 5 ft inside a side or rear yard.

Residential Neighborhood C - Density is capped at four dwelling units per lot, and the minimum lot area rises with the unit count: 4,000 sq ft for one or two units, 5,000 for three and 6,000 for four.

• The front setback is contextual: within 2 ft of the average setback of the two lots on each side, with 20 ft applying where that average does not govern.
• The 70% coverage cap counts all impervious surfaces, so driveways and parking count against it, not just buildings.
• A secondary street setback of 10 ft applies on a corner lot's second frontage.
• An accessory building or structure may not exceed 25 ft in height or stand in a primary or secondary street yard, and needs 5 ft inside a side or rear yard.

Residential Neighborhood D - The minimum lot area rises with the unit count: 2,000 sq ft for one unit, 4,000 for two, 5,000 for three, 6,000 for four and 8,000 for five or more.

• The front setback is contextual: within 2 ft of the average setback of the two lots on each side, with 0 ft applying where that average does not govern.
• Five or more units are allowed, with no cap on units per lot; the lot area steps are what limit the count.
• The 80% coverage cap counts all impervious surfaces, so driveways and parking count against it, not just buildings.
• A secondary street setback of 10 ft applies on a corner lot's second frontage.
• An accessory building or structure may not exceed 25 ft in height or stand in a primary or secondary street yard, and needs 5 ft inside a side or rear yard.

Residential Community 3 - The front setback is contextual: a building must sit within 2 ft of the average setback of the two lots on each side of it, and 20 ft applies only where that average does not govern. A corner lot's second frontage needs a 20 ft secondary street setback.

• Five or more units are allowed, with no cap on units per lot.
• The 60% coverage cap counts all impervious surfaces, so driveways and parking count against it, not just buildings.
• An accessory building or structure may not exceed 25 ft in height or stand in a primary or secondary street yard, and needs 5 ft inside a side or rear yard.

Residential Community 5 - The front setback is contextual: a building must sit within 2 ft of the average setback of the two lots on each side of it, and 10 ft applies only where that average does not govern.

• Five or more units are allowed, with no cap on units per lot.
• Transparency minimums apply: 40% of a residential ground story, 60% of a nonresidential primary street frontage, 40% of a nonresidential secondary street frontage and 25% of an upper story.
• The 70% coverage cap counts all impervious surfaces, so driveways and parking count against it, not just buildings.
• A secondary street setback of 10 ft applies on a corner lot's second frontage.
• An accessory building or structure may not exceed 25 ft in height or stand in a primary or secondary street yard, and needs 5 ft inside a side or rear yard.

Mixed Use 3 - The primary street setback is a range, 0 ft minimum and 15 ft maximum, with 60% of the frontage built to it. The side yard is 0 ft, or 15 ft beside a residential lot line. Height runs from at least 22 ft to 3 stories or 42 ft.

• A residential property needs a lot of at least 4,000 sq ft for one or two units, 5,000 for three and 6,000 for four; a nonresidential property has no minimum lot area at all.
• On Main Street only, a development with more than 10% affordable units, or LEED Gold or Platinum, may add one story, to 4 stories or 55 ft.
• A secondary street setback runs 0 to 15 ft, with 40% of that frontage built to it.
• The district sets no minimum lot width.
• The 80% coverage cap counts all impervious surfaces, so driveways and parking count against it, not just buildings.
• An accessory building or structure may not exceed 25 ft in height or stand in a primary or secondary street yard, and needs 5 ft inside a side or rear yard.

Mixed Use 5 - The primary street setback is a range, 0 ft minimum and 15 ft maximum, with at least 60% of the frontage built to it. The side yard is 0 ft, or 15 ft beside a residential lot line. Height runs from at least 2 stories or 29 ft to 5 stories or 68 ft.

• A development with more than 10% affordable units, or LEED Gold or Platinum, may add two stories, to 7 stories or 94 ft.
• Above the fifth story the building must step back 5 ft.
• A secondary street setback runs 0 to 15 ft, with 40% of that frontage built to it.
• The 80% coverage cap counts all impervious surfaces, so driveways and parking count against it, not just buildings.
• The district sets no minimum lot width.
• An accessory building or structure may not exceed 25 ft in height or stand in a primary or secondary street yard, and needs 5 ft inside a side or rear yard.

Poughkeepsie Innovation District A - Lot coverage here is a minimum, not a maximum: all buildings and structures must cover at least 75% of the lot. The primary and secondary street setbacks are 0 ft with a 100% build-to frontage, so the building sits on the street line.

• Height runs from at least 2 stories or 29 ft to 5 stories or 68 ft, with a 5 ft step-back above the fifth story.
• A development with more than 10% affordable units, or LEED Gold or Platinum, may add two stories, to 7 stories or 94 ft.
• The side yard is 0 to 11 ft, or 15 ft beside a residential lot line.
• The district sets no minimum lot width.
• An accessory building or structure may not exceed 25 ft in height or stand in a primary or secondary street yard, and needs 5 ft inside a side or rear yard.

Poughkeepsie Innovation District B - Lot coverage here is a minimum, not a maximum: all buildings and structures must cover at least 60% of the lot, and at least 10% of the site must be outdoor activity space.

• The primary street setback is a range, 0 ft minimum and 15 ft maximum, and the secondary 0 to 6 ft, each with at least 80% of the frontage built to it.
• The side yard is 0 to 11 ft, or 15 ft beside a residential lot line, and the rear 8 ft, or 15 ft beside one.
• Height runs from at least 2 stories or 29 ft to 6 stories or 81 ft, with a 5 ft step-back above the fifth story.
• A development with more than 10% affordable units, or LEED Gold or Platinum, may add two stories, to 8 stories or 107 ft; with 20% or more affordable units, three, to 9 stories or 120 ft.
• The district sets no minimum lot width.
• An accessory building or structure may not exceed 25 ft in height or stand in a primary or secondary street yard, and needs 5 ft inside a side or rear yard.

Industrial Mixed - The front setback is contextual: a building must sit within 2 ft of the average setback of the two lots on each side of it, and 15 ft applies only where that average does not govern.

• A secondary street setback of 15 ft applies on a corner lot's second frontage.
• The 70% coverage cap counts all impervious surfaces, so driveways and parking count against it, not just buildings.
• The district sets no minimum lot width.
• An accessory building or structure may not exceed 25 ft in height or stand in a primary or secondary street yard, and needs 5 ft inside a side or rear yard.