ADU · Dutchess County

Can you build an ADU in La Grange, NY?

Town of La Grange has 14 districts. 8 districts allow ADUs with a special-use permit, 6 do not. Check your address to confirm the district that applies to your parcel:

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What the La Grange code says

An accessory apartment, inside the house or in a garage or barn, needs a special permit in RFD, RLD, RMD, RFS, TCR, TCB, H and GH, issued to the owner-occupant only and void if the owner moves out. It is not permitted in OPD, MGH, TPK, GB, C or I.

Conditions the code attaches:

When the permit becomes void, the apartment's kitchen must be removed within 60 days; a new owner must sign an affidavit to transfer the permit.
No more than one bedroom, with floor area of at least 400 sq ft and no more than 35% of the one-family dwelling's entire floor area.
Four off-street parking spaces on an improved surface are required; lawn and street parking are prohibited.
An uncorrected well-water or septic problem revokes the permit, and Health Department approval is needed if the bedroom count increases.
An apartment in an accessory building is prohibited where one already exists inside the one-family residence.
No exterior stairway on a street-fronting wall, and no outstanding violations on the property.

How big an ADU can be in La Grange

Size limits are set per district, and a unit inside the house is a different standard from a detached one. These are the figures the code publishes.

Accessory dwelling unit

At least 400 sq ft, and no more than 35% of the principal dwelling

RFD, RLD, RMD, RFS, TCR, TCB, H, GH · owner-occupancy required · § 240-52B(1), (5), (6)

What the La Grange 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
Residential Flexible-Density	1.84 ac	55 / 20 / 20 ft	35 ft	Special permit
Residential Low-Density	2.75 ac	55 / 40 / 40 ft	35 ft	Special permit
Residential Moderate-Density	1.84 ac	55 / 30 / 30 ft	35 ft	Special permit
Residential Frank & Sleight	—	35 / 10 / 20 ft	35 ft	Special permit
Town Center Residential	0.14 ac	—	35 ft	Special permit
Town Park	—	35 / 100 / 100 ft	35 ft	No
Overlook Planned Development	—	25 / 100 / 75 ft	35 ft	No
Town Center Business	0.14 ac	- / 0 / 6 ft	50 ft	Special permit
Hamlet	0.69 ac	10 / 5 / 10 ft	35 ft	Special permit
Manchester Gateway Hamlet	—	10 / 5 / 6 ft	50 ft	No
Gateway Hamlet	—	15 / 5 / 10 ft	35 ft	Special permit
General Business	0.92 ac	40 / 20 / 20 ft	35 ft	No
Commercial	0.69 ac	40 / 20 / 20 ft	35 ft	No
Industrial	1.84 ac	75 / 20 / 20 ft	35 ft	No

Residential Flexible-Density - Minimum lot area depends on utilities: at least 80,000 sq ft on a private well and septic system, 60,000 with either public water or public sewer, and 40,000 with both. At the two smaller sizes building coverage is 15%, and floor area is 30% at 40,000 and 25% at 60,000.

At 40,000 sq ft the lot need only be 50 ft wide at any point, with 50 ft of Town frontage and 125 ft on a county or state highway; at 60,000 it must be at least 75 ft wide.
At 80,000 sq ft the lot must be at least 100 ft wide at any point, with at least 75 ft of frontage on a Town right-of-way and 200 ft on a county or state highway.
On a Town road the front yard must also be 80 ft from the centre line of the road; on a state or county road it is 90 ft.
A square at least 150 ft on a side must fit on the lot, reducible under the open space subdivision rules at § 240-32.
Total lot coverage, counting buildings, structures, outdoor deposit and paving, may not exceed 20%.
Height is also capped at 3 stories.

Residential Low-Density - On a Town road the front yard must also be 80 ft from the centre line of the road, and on a state or county road it is 90 ft. Total lot coverage, counting buildings, structures, outdoor deposit and paving, may not exceed 15%.

Frontage must be at least 100 ft on a Town right-of-way, reducible to 50 ft on the circular end of a cul-de-sac, and 225 ft on a county or state highway.
The lot must also be at least 150 ft wide at any point.
A square at least 200 ft on a side must fit on the lot, reducible under the open space subdivision rules at § 240-32.
Height is also capped at 3 stories.
Only finished year-round livable floor area counts toward the minimum, measured inside the exterior walls with a 7 1/2 ft ceiling, and upper floors only where a permanent inside stairway reaches them.

Residential Moderate-Density - On a Town road the front yard must also be 80 ft from the centre line of the road, and on a state or county road it is 90 ft. Total lot coverage, counting buildings, structures, outdoor deposit and paving, may not exceed 20%.

Frontage must be at least 75 ft on a Town right-of-way, reducible to 50 ft on the circular end of a cul-de-sac, and 200 ft on a county or state highway.
The lot must also be at least 100 ft wide at any point.
A square at least 200 ft on a side must fit on the lot, reducible under the open space subdivision rules at § 240-32.
Height is also capped at 3 stories.
Only finished year-round livable floor area counts toward the minimum, measured inside the exterior walls with a 7 1/2 ft ceiling, and upper floors only where a permanent inside stairway reaches them.

Residential Frank & Sleight - Development here is part of an open space subdivision under § 240-32, and no further subdivision is permitted. The side yards are 10 ft on one side and 15 ft on the other, at least 25 ft combined, and principal structures must stand at least 25 ft apart.

On a Town road the front yard must also be 60 ft from the centre line of the road.
The lot must be at least 60 ft wide at any point, with at least 60 ft of frontage on a Town right-of-way.
A square at least 75 ft on a side must fit on the lot, reducible under the open space subdivision rules at § 240-32.
Height is also capped at 3 stories.
Only finished year-round livable floor area counts toward the minimum, measured inside the exterior walls with a 7 1/2 ft ceiling, and upper floors only where a permanent inside stairway reaches them.

Town Center Residential - The 6,000 sq ft minimum lot applies to a single-family home on public sewers, and the schedule sets no single-family lot area without them. The Planning Board may approve six to twelve dwelling units per acre, and at its discretion a 4,000 sq ft single-family lot.

A townhouse on public sewers needs 2,500 sq ft, or a 1,650 sq ft lot at the Planning Board's discretion.
Density may never exceed twelve units per acre overall, and no more than five single-family units on lots under 6,000 sq ft may sit in a row without a break.
Yards are set in Schedule B4, not on the bulk schedule.
Total lot coverage, counting buildings, structures, outdoor deposit and paving, may not exceed 60%.
Townhouses and apartments are excluded from the 70% building floor area limit.
Height is also capped at 3 stories.

Town Park - On a state or county road the front yard is 100 ft. A square at least 150 ft on a side must fit on the lot, reducible under the open space subdivision rules at § 240-32.

An apartment needs at least 400 sq ft of floor area.
Height is also capped at 3 stories.
Only finished year-round livable floor area counts toward the minimum, measured inside the exterior walls with a 7 1/2 ft ceiling, and upper floors only where a permanent inside stairway reaches them.

Overlook Planned Development - Frontage must be at least 500 ft on a county or state highway. Total lot coverage, counting buildings, structures, outdoor deposit and paving, may not exceed 70%.

A square at least 200 ft on a side must fit on the lot, reducible under the open space subdivision rules at § 240-32.
An apartment needs at least 400 sq ft of floor area.
Height is also capped at 3 stories.
Only finished year-round livable floor area counts toward the minimum, measured inside the exterior walls with a 7 1/2 ft ceiling, and upper floors only where a permanent inside stairway reaches them.

Town Center Business - The 6,000 sq ft minimum lot applies to a single-family home on public sewers, and the schedule sets none without them. Front yards are set in Schedule B3, and a building must stand 25 ft back from a residential district boundary line.

The Planning Board may approve six to twelve dwelling units per acre, and at its discretion a 4,000 sq ft single-family lot or a 1,650 sq ft townhouse lot.
A townhouse on public sewers needs 2,500 sq ft.
The Planning Board may approve a zero-foot rear yard.
Total lot coverage, counting buildings, structures, outdoor deposit and paving, may not exceed 90%.
Height is also capped at 3 stories.

Hamlet - A single-family lot served by public sewers needs 8,000 sq ft rather than 30,000, and a townhouse on public sewers 6,250 sq ft. A building must stand 30 ft back from a residential district boundary line.

The lot must also be at least 30 ft wide at any point.
Frontage must be at least 40 ft on a Town right-of-way and 50 ft on a county or state highway.
Total lot coverage, counting buildings, structures, outdoor deposit and paving, may not exceed 60%.
Height is also capped at 3 stories.

Manchester Gateway Hamlet - A building must stand between 48.5 and 58.5 ft from the centre line of NYS Route 55, and 25 ft back from a residential district boundary line. A townhouse needs 2,500 sq ft.

The Town-road front yard does not apply to townhouses and apartments.
The Planning Board may approve a zero-foot rear yard.
Total lot coverage, counting buildings, structures, outdoor deposit and paving, may not exceed 85%.
Height is also capped at 3 stories.

Gateway Hamlet - Height is capped at 2 stories as well as 35 ft, and a building must stand 25 ft back from a residential district boundary line. The Planning Board may approve six to twelve dwelling units per acre.

A townhouse on public sewers needs 2,500 sq ft.
On a state or county road the front yard is 10 ft.
Total lot coverage, counting buildings, structures, outdoor deposit and paving, may not exceed 85%.

General Business - Total lot coverage, counting buildings, structures, outdoor deposit and paving, may not exceed 50%, but where both public water and sewer are available the Planning Board may allow 70% and a 20 ft front yard.

On a state or county road the front yard is 45 ft.
A building must stand 30 ft back from a residential district boundary line.
Frontage must be at least 75 ft on a Town right-of-way and 225 ft on a county or state highway, and the lot at least 50 ft wide at any point.
A square at least 100 ft on a side must fit on the lot, reducible under the open space subdivision rules at § 240-32.
Height is also capped at 3 stories.

Commercial - On a state or county road the front yard is 45 ft, and a building must stand 30 ft back from a residential district boundary line. Total lot coverage, counting buildings, structures, outdoor deposit and paving, may not exceed 70%.

Frontage must be at least 75 ft on a Town right-of-way and 200 ft on a county or state highway, and the lot at least 50 ft wide at any point.
A square at least 100 ft on a side must fit on the lot, reducible under the open space subdivision rules at § 240-32.
Height is also capped at 3 stories.

Industrial - A building must stand 300 ft back from a residential district boundary line, and the front yard is 165 ft on a state or county road. Total lot coverage, counting buildings, structures, outdoor deposit and paving, may not exceed 60%.

Frontage must be at least 100 ft on a Town right-of-way and 200 ft on a county or state highway, and the lot at least 50 ft wide at any point.
A square at least 200 ft on a side must fit on the lot, reducible under the open space subdivision rules at § 240-32.
Height is also capped at 3 stories.

ADUs vs. short-term rentals in La Grange

No local short-term-rental law on record - which is not the same as permission for Town of La Grange. The Town of La Grange has no local short-term rental registration law as of Jun 2026, and that is not the same as permission. Confirm with the Town of La Grange Building Department before counting on short-term rental income. 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 minimum0.14–2.75 ac — an ADU still has to fit the district's lot and setback envelope.
UtilityCentral Hudson territory.
Zoning codeecode360.com/6412940
Building dept(845) 452-1830

ADU FAQ — La Grange, NY

Are ADUs allowed in La Grange, NY?

Town of La Grange has 14 districts. 8 districts allow ADUs with a special-use permit, 6 do not. Check your address with the free ADU checker, or confirm with the building department at (845) 452-1830.

Do I need a special permit for an ADU in La Grange?

It depends on the district: 8 of 14 require a special-use permit, the rest do not. Check the district that applies to your parcel before you design.

Can I use an ADU as a short-term rental in La Grange?

No local short-term-rental law on record - which is not the same as permission for Town of La Grange. 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.

Run the free ADU check for your parcel →

What an ADU costs to build in La Grange

Permission is one question and budget is another. An 800 sq ft accessory unit here runs roughly $210k–275k 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 La Grange, priced by size.

How we know this

Sections analyzed: Ch. 240 Schedule A1, Schedule A2, Schedule A3 (§ 240-27); § 240-52 Accessory apartments; § 240-60 Carriage units
Districts confirmed: 14 of 14 — every mapped district.
Last reviewed: 2026-08-16
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 La Grange: Full zoning for new construction · ADU build cost · House build cost · ADU rules across Dutchess County · All Dutchess County towns

ADU information for Town of La Grange is compiled from the municipal code (last reviewed 2026-08-16) 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 (845) 452-1830 before relying on any answer. Source: the Offsite / Aldo zoning dataset.