ADU · Erie County
Can you build an ADU in Wales, NY?
Town of Wales has 1 district. The only district prohibits ADUs. Check your address to confirm the district that applies to your parcel:
What the Wales code says
Wales has no accessory dwelling provision: no accessory building may be occupied as a dwelling, and a garage or other accessory building may not be used for living quarters unless it is attached to a dwelling.
Conditions the code attaches:
- The route to a second unit is a two-family dwelling, which the R district takes as a principal use, with no special permit, no owner-occupancy condition and no size ratio.
- Accessory buildings are kept out of any front yard and any required side yard, must stand at least 10 feet from a dwelling unless attached, and may cover no more than 25% of the required rear yard.
- An accessory use may not dominate the principal use in extent or purpose.
- The Town Board can grant a special permit for uses it finds similar in nature to the district's own, so ask about an interior accessory apartment rather than assuming either way.
- Confirm with the building department at (716) 652-0589 before planning a second unit.
What the Wales 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 District | 3 ac | 75 / 20 / 50 ft | 35 ft | No |
ADUs vs. short-term rentals in Wales
No local short-term-rental law on record - which is not the same as permission for Town of Wales. The Town of Wales has no local short-term rental law. That is not the same as permission, so confirm with the building department before counting on the use. 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 minimum3 ac — an ADU still has to fit the district's lot and setback envelope.
- UtilityNational Grid territory.
- Zoning codeecode360.com/11922189
- Building dept(716) 652-0589
ADU FAQ — Wales, NY
Are ADUs allowed in Wales, NY?
Town of Wales has 1 district. The only district prohibits ADUs. Check your address with the free ADU checker, or confirm with the building department at (716) 652-0589.
Do I need a special permit for an ADU in Wales?
No. No district in Town of Wales permits an ADU, so there is no permit to apply for. Codes change, so verify with the building department at (716) 652-0589 before ruling it out.
Can I use an ADU as a short-term rental in Wales?
No local short-term-rental law on record - which is not the same as permission for Town of Wales. 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 Wales
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 Wales, priced by size.
How we know this
- Sections analyzed
- § 200-27 (R-Residential) · § 200-41 · § 200-50
- Districts confirmed
- 1 of 1 — 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 Wales: 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 Wales 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) 652-0589 before relying on any answer. Source: the Offsite / Aldo zoning dataset.