ADU · Erie County
Can you build an ADU in Sardinia, NY?
Town of Sardinia has 6 districts. All districts prohibit ADUs. Check your address to confirm the district that applies to your parcel:
What the Sardinia code says
Sardinia has no accessory dwelling unit of any kind, in AR, HR, HB, LC, BL or GCF. AR and HR permit a two-family dwelling by right instead, with no special use permit, no owner-occupancy condition and no size ratio.
Conditions the code attaches:
- HR is capped at one dwelling unit per 20,000 square feet of land area
- In AR a storage building, detached garage, shed, pool house or gazebo count together against a cap of 100% of the perimeter area of the principal dwelling
- In HR a detached garage is capped at 50% of the principal dwelling's floor area
- HB is a mixed-use district, where housing is a principal dwelling inside a mixed-use building
What the Sardinia 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 Residential | 2 ac | 50 / 25 / 50 ft | 35 ft | No |
| Hamlet Residential | 1 ac | 25 / 10 / 50 ft | 35 ft | No |
| Hamlet Business | 1 ac | 40 / 10 / 50 ft | 35 ft | No |
| Limited Commercial | 2 ac | 50 / 25 / 50 ft | 35 ft | No |
| Business Light Industrial | 3 ac | 75 / 25 / 50 ft | 50 ft | No |
| Government-Community Facilities | 3 ac | 75 / 25 / 50 ft | 50 ft | No |
ADUs vs. short-term rentals in Sardinia
No local short-term-rental law on record - which is not the same as permission for Town of Sardinia. Sardinia has no local short-term rental law. That is not the same as permission, so confirm with the building department before counting on renting a home short term. 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.
- UtilityNational Grid territory.
- Zoning codeecode360.com/33779263
- Building dept(716) 496-8900
ADU FAQ — Sardinia, NY
Are ADUs allowed in Sardinia, NY?
Town of Sardinia has 6 districts. All districts prohibit ADUs. Check your address with the free ADU checker, or confirm with the building department at (716) 496-8900.
Do I need a special permit for an ADU in Sardinia?
No. No district in Town of Sardinia permits an ADU, so there is no permit to apply for. Codes change, so verify with the building department at (716) 496-8900 before ruling it out.
Can I use an ADU as a short-term rental in Sardinia?
No local short-term-rental law on record - which is not the same as permission for Town of Sardinia. 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 Sardinia
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 Sardinia, priced by size.
How we know this
- Sections analyzed
- § 115-19 (AR) · § 115-20 (HR) · §§ 115-21 through 115-24 · § 115-17
- Districts confirmed
- 6 of 6 — 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 Sardinia: 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 Sardinia is compiled from the municipal code (last reviewed 2026-09-16) 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 (716) 496-8900 before relying on any answer. Source: the Offsite / Aldo zoning dataset.