ADU · Erie County
Can you build an ADU in Grand Island, NY?
Town of Grand Island has 19 districts. 18 of 19 districts prohibit ADUs. 1 district has incomplete data - verify with the building department at (716) 773-9600. Check your address to confirm the district that applies to your parcel:
What the Grand Island code says
Grand Island has no accessory apartment or in-law unit in any district. A second unit means building a duplex, which R-3 and the North and South Business Districts permit; R-2 dropped the duplex in 2016.
Conditions the code attaches:
- Only the uses the code lists for a district are allowed
- R-1A to R-1E permit a single-family detached house only
- Duplexes in the North and South Business Districts are limited to eight units per acre
- No dwelling is permitted in B1, B2, B3, M1, M2 or OS
- No more than two accessory buildings on a residential lot
- Accessory building floor area is capped by district, from 1,700 sq ft in R-1A to 800 sq ft in R-1E
What the Grand Island 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low-Density Single-Family Residential District | 3 ac | 50 / 15 / 50 ft | 35 ft | No |
| Single-Family Residential District | 0.69 ac | 50 / 12 / 50 ft | 35 ft | No |
| Single-Family Residential District | 0.46 ac | 50 / 12 / 50 ft | 35 ft | No |
| Medium-Density Single-Family Residential District | 0.29 ac | 35 / 10 / 40 ft | 35 ft | No |
| High-Density Single-Family Residential District | 0.22 ac | 30 / 8 / 40 ft | 30 ft | No |
| Attached/Detached Single-Family Residential District | 5 ac | 30 / 8 / 30 ft | 35 ft | No |
| Attached/Detached Waterfront Single-Family Residential District | 5 ac | 30 / 8 / 20 ft | 35 ft | No |
| Multiple-Family Residential District | 3 ac | 40 / 30 / 30 ft | 35 ft | No |
| General Business District | 0.46 ac | 65 / 25 / 30 ft | 40 ft | No |
| Waterfront Business District | 1 ac | 65 / 20 / 20 ft | 40 ft | No |
| Hamlet Business District | 0.46 ac | 65 / 25 / 30 ft | 40 ft | No |
| Commercial Recreational Facilities District | 10 ac | 50 / 50 / 50 ft | 35 ft | No |
| Light Industrial and Research District | 1.5 ac | 65 / 25 / 30 ft | 45 ft | No |
| Industrial District | 1.5 ac | 75 / 25 / 30 ft | 45 ft | No |
| Mining/Excavation Overlay District | 5 ac | 100 / 100 / 100 ft | — | — |
| North Business District | — | 15 / - / - ft | 40 ft | No |
| Central Business District | — | 15 / - / - ft | 40 ft | No |
| South Business District | — | 15 / - / - ft | 40 ft | No |
| Open Space District | — | — | — | No |
Low-Density Single-Family Residential District - A setback measured from the centre of the right-of-way governs on eighteen named roads and overrides the district front yard wherever it is greater: 115 ft on Grand Island Boulevard, 100 ft on Alt Boulevard, Baseline, Whitehaven and most of Stony Point Road.
- On East River Road that setback is 90 ft, and on the other named roads 80 ft (§ 407-18A)
- The three acres cannot be taken in any shape: a lot must also be 140 ft wide at the street and 250 ft deep
- On a shoreline lot the setback from the top of the river bank is the average of the two adjoining structures, or a match to the single one that is built, and never less than the district rear yard
Single-Family Residential District - A setback measured from the centre of the right-of-way governs on eighteen named roads and overrides the district front yard wherever it is greater: 115 ft on Grand Island Boulevard, 100 ft on Alt Boulevard, Baseline, Whitehaven and most of Stony Point Road.
- On East River Road that setback is 90 ft, and on the other named roads 80 ft (§ 407-18A)
- The size figure here is the buildable area each dwelling unit takes, 30,000 sq ft, rather than a lot area, and for a single house the two come to the same thing
- Shape is controlled separately: at least 120 ft of frontage and 250 ft of depth
- On a shoreline lot the setback from the top of the river bank is the average of the two adjoining structures, or a match to the single one that is built, and never less than the district rear yard
Single-Family Residential District - A setback measured from the centre of the right-of-way governs on eighteen named roads and overrides the district front yard wherever it is greater: 115 ft on Grand Island Boulevard, 100 ft on Alt Boulevard, Baseline, Whitehaven and most of Stony Point Road.
- On East River Road that setback is 90 ft, and on the other named roads 80 ft (§ 407-18A)
- The size figure here is the buildable area each dwelling unit takes, 20,000 sq ft, rather than a lot area, and for a single house the two come to the same thing
- Shape is controlled separately: at least 100 ft of frontage and 200 ft of depth
- On a shoreline lot the setback from the top of the river bank is the average of the two adjoining structures, or a match to the single one that is built, and never less than the district rear yard
Medium-Density Single-Family Residential District - A setback measured from the centre of the right-of-way governs on eighteen named roads and overrides the district front yard wherever it is greater: 115 ft on Grand Island Boulevard, 100 ft on Alt Boulevard, Baseline, Whitehaven and most of Stony Point Road.
- On East River Road that setback is 90 ft, and on the other named roads 80 ft (§ 407-18A)
- The size figure here is the buildable area each dwelling unit takes, 12,800 sq ft, rather than a lot area, and for a single house the two come to the same thing
- Shape is controlled separately: at least 80 ft of frontage and 160 ft of depth
- On a shoreline lot the setback from the top of the river bank is the average of the two adjoining structures, or a match to the single one that is built, and never less than the district rear yard
High-Density Single-Family Residential District - A setback measured from the centre of the right-of-way governs on eighteen named roads and overrides the district front yard wherever it is greater: 115 ft on Grand Island Boulevard, 100 ft on Alt Boulevard, Baseline, Whitehaven and most of Stony Point Road.
- On East River Road that setback is 90 ft, and on the other named roads 80 ft (§ 407-18A)
- The size figure here is the buildable area each dwelling unit takes, 9,450 sq ft, rather than a lot area, and for a single house the two come to the same thing
- Shape is controlled separately: at least 70 ft of frontage and 135 ft of depth
- On a shoreline lot the setback from the top of the river bank is the average of the two adjoining structures, or a match to the single one that is built, and never less than the district rear yard
Attached/Detached Single-Family Residential District - The five acres is the minimum size of the development, not of a lot inside it. Yield comes from the 8,400 sq ft of buildable area each dwelling unit consumes.
- A development reached by private roads is priced lower, at 6,600 sq ft per unit on 60 ft of frontage rather than 8,400 on 70 ft
- No more than four dwelling units may sit in one contiguous structure, no structure may run more than 160 ft along its facade, and structures must stand 60 ft apart
- A common parking area must be 12 ft from any lot line, and any part of the development facing a residentially zoned lot must stand 30 ft back
- Minimum dwelling size runs 650 sq ft for one bedroom, 860 for two and 1,000 for three, with a further 120 sq ft for every bedroom beyond that
- A setback measured from the centre of the right-of-way governs on eighteen named roads and overrides the district front yard wherever it is greater
- That road setback is 115 ft on Grand Island Boulevard, 100 ft on Alt Boulevard, Baseline, Whitehaven and most of Stony Point Road, 90 ft on East River Road and 80 ft on the rest
Attached/Detached Waterfront Single-Family Residential District - The five acres is the minimum size of the development, not of a lot inside it. Yield comes from the 8,400 sq ft of buildable area each dwelling unit consumes.
- The 20 ft rear yard is the yard that faces the water on a river lot
- A development reached by private roads is priced at 6,600 sq ft per unit on 60 ft of frontage instead
- No more than four dwelling units may sit in one contiguous structure, no structure may run more than 160 ft along its facade, and structures must stand 60 ft apart
- Minimum dwelling size runs 650 sq ft for one bedroom, 860 for two and 1,000 for three, with a further 120 sq ft for every bedroom beyond that
- On a shoreline lot the setback from the top of the river bank is the average of the two adjoining structures, or a match to the single one that is built, and never less than the district rear yard
- A setback measured from the centre of the right-of-way governs on eighteen named roads and overrides the district front yard wherever it is greater
Multiple-Family Residential District - The three acres is the minimum size of the development, not of a lot inside it. Yield comes from the 3,500 sq ft of buildable area each dwelling unit consumes.
- The parcel must also be at least 200 ft wide and 200 ft deep
- No building may run more than 160 ft along its facade, main buildings must stand 60 ft apart and other buildings 20 ft
- Common parking must be 25 ft back at the front and 10 ft at the rear, excluding enclosed garages and carports
- Minimum dwelling size runs 650 sq ft for one bedroom, 860 for two and 1,000 for three, with a further 120 sq ft for every bedroom beyond that
- A setback measured from the centre of the right-of-way governs on eighteen named roads and overrides the district front yard wherever it is greater
- That road setback is 115 ft on Grand Island Boulevard, 100 ft on Alt Boulevard, Baseline, Whitehaven and most of Stony Point Road, 90 ft on East River Road and 80 ft on the rest
General Business District, Hamlet Business District - A setback measured from the centre of the right-of-way governs on eighteen named roads and overrides the district front yard wherever it is greater: 115 ft on Grand Island Boulevard, 100 ft on Alt Boulevard, Baseline, Whitehaven and most of Stony Point Road.
- On East River Road that setback is 90 ft, and on the other named roads 80 ft (§ 407-18A)
- The 20,000 sq ft figure is the land a dwelling consumes here, not a floor on the size of a commercial lot
- A lot must be 100 ft of frontage, 100 ft wide and 200 ft deep
- Anything within 50 ft of a residentially zoned lot must stand back that far
Waterfront Business District - A setback measured from the centre of the right-of-way governs on eighteen named roads and overrides the district front yard wherever it is greater: 115 ft on Grand Island Boulevard, 100 ft on Alt Boulevard, Baseline, Whitehaven and most of Stony Point Road.
- On East River Road that setback is 90 ft, and on the other named roads 80 ft (§ 407-18A)
- The 20 ft yards also apply against a residentially zoned lot
- A lot must be 100 ft of frontage, 100 ft wide and 200 ft deep
- On a shoreline lot the setback from the top of the river bank is the average of the two adjoining structures, or a match to the single one that is built, and never less than the district rear yard
Commercial Recreational Facilities District - Frontage and width are different figures here: 100 ft of frontage on the street but 200 ft of width, so a lot may neck down where it meets the road.
- Every yard is 50 ft, including the setback from a residentially zoned lot
- The 35 ft height cap applies to buildings; an amusement park ride or attraction may reach 100 ft
- A setback measured from the centre of the right-of-way governs on eighteen named roads and overrides the district front yard wherever it is greater
- That road setback is 115 ft on Grand Island Boulevard, 100 ft on Alt Boulevard, Baseline, Whitehaven and most of Stony Point Road, 90 ft on East River Road and 80 ft on the rest
Light Industrial and Research District, Industrial District - A setback measured from the centre of the right-of-way governs on eighteen named roads and overrides the district front yard wherever it is greater: 115 ft on Grand Island Boulevard, 100 ft on Alt Boulevard, Baseline, Whitehaven and most of Stony Point Road.
- On East River Road that setback is 90 ft, and on the other named roads 80 ft (§ 407-18A)
- A lot must be 150 ft of frontage, 150 ft wide and 300 ft deep
- Anything within 50 ft of a residentially zoned lot must stand back that far
Mining/Excavation Overlay District - This is an overlay, applied on top of whatever district the land already carries, so its 100 ft yards sit alongside the underlying district's standards rather than replacing them. Those yards are measured to the top of the excavated area, not to a building.
- Fifty feet of frontage is the only shape requirement
- A setback measured from the centre of the right-of-way governs on eighteen named roads and overrides the district front yard wherever it is greater
- That road setback is 115 ft on Grand Island Boulevard, 100 ft on Alt Boulevard, Baseline, Whitehaven and most of Stony Point Road, 90 ft on East River Road and 80 ft on the rest
North Business District, South Business District - Residential density is the standard that binds here, not lot size: attached houses, duplexes and multifamily developments are permitted by right at eight units per acre or fewer, and a special permit lifts attached and multifamily to between nine and twelve.
- Lot area, width, depth, side and rear yards and coverage are settled by the design and performance standards at § 407-13 and at site plan review
- The Town Board may approve a plan with setbacks smaller than the town's named-road setback would otherwise require (§ 407-18B)
Central Business District - This district sets a minimum residential density as well as a maximum: attached houses and multifamily developments are permitted by right at no fewer than nine and no more than sixteen units per acre, so a thin scheme is as non-conforming as an overbuilt one.
- Above sixteen units per acre a special permit is required, and no upper figure is named
- Lot area, width, depth, side and rear yards and coverage are settled by the design and performance standards at § 407-13 and at site plan review
- The Town Board may approve a plan with setbacks smaller than the town's named-road setback would otherwise require (§ 407-18B)
Open Space District - Setbacks here are determined at site plan review. A setback measured from the centre of the right-of-way still governs on eighteen named roads: 115 ft on Grand Island Boulevard, 100 ft on Alt Boulevard, Baseline, Whitehaven and most of Stony Point Road.
- On East River Road that setback is 90 ft, and on the other named roads 80 ft (§ 407-18A)
ADUs vs. short-term rentals in Grand Island
Short-term rentals prohibited for Town of Grand Island. Short-term rentals are not permitted in any of the residential districts. The one exception is a bed-and-breakfast specifically authorized elsewhere in the chapter, which is regulated separately. 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 minimum0.22–5 ac — an ADU still has to fit the district's lot and setback envelope.
- UtilityNational Grid territory.
- Zoning codeecode360.com/11851931
- Building dept(716) 773-9600
ADU FAQ — Grand Island, NY
Are ADUs allowed in Grand Island, NY?
Town of Grand Island has 19 districts. 18 of 19 districts prohibit ADUs. 1 district has incomplete data - verify with the building department at (716) 773-9600. Check your address with the free ADU checker.
Do I need a special permit for an ADU in Grand Island?
18 of 19 districts prohibit ADUs, so no permit applies in those. 1 district has incomplete data - verify with the building department at (716) 773-9600.
Can I use an ADU as a short-term rental in Grand Island?
Short-term rentals prohibited for Town of Grand Island. 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 Grand Island
Permission is one question and budget is another. An 800 sq ft accessory unit here runs roughly $200k–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 Grand Island, priced by size.
How we know this
- Sections analyzed
- § 407-8C · §§ 407-22 to 407-56 (residential districts) · §§ 407-59 to 407-61 (NBD, CBD, SBD) · § 407-89 (OS) · § 407-142
- Districts confirmed
- 18 of 19 — 1 not yet analyzed, so this page does not answer for it.
- 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 Grand Island: Full zoning for new construction · ADU build cost · House build cost · ADU rules across Erie County · All Erie County towns
ADU information for Town of Grand Island is compiled from the municipal code (last reviewed 2026-09-10) 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 (716) 773-9600 before relying on any answer. Source: the Offsite / Aldo zoning dataset.