ADU · Monroe County

Can you build an ADU in Fairport, NY?

Village of Fairport has 3 districts. All districts allow ADUs. Check your address to confirm the district that applies to your parcel:

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What the Fairport code says

One accessory dwelling unit per lot per single-family dwelling is permitted by right in RLD, RN and RTN, up to 650 sq ft and one bedroom. It must be fully enclosed within or attached to the existing principal structure; detached units are prohibited.

Conditions the code attaches:

§ 551-26A has no owner-occupancy or family requirement, so the unit may be let on the open market.
For an attached unit, at least 25% of its total wall area, or its floor or ceiling, must be fully connected to the principal structure.
The unit must be connected using common structural elements: shared walls, floors, ceilings or roofs.
An attached unit may not extend past the existing building's front building line.
A detached accessory structure may not contain cooking facilities or a full bath, and plumbing fixtures above the first floor are prohibited, so a detached unit is barred twice over.
Separately, converting a single-family house to a two-family is permitted by right in RLD, RN and RTN (§ 551-25L).
Building and Code Enforcement: (585) 421-3207.

What the Fairport 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 Low Density	0.34 ac	50 / 15 / 50 ft	30 ft	As of right
Residential Neighborhood	0.17 ac	30 / 10 / 30 ft	30 ft	As of right
Residential Transitional Neighborhood	0.092 ac	20 / 10 / 15 ft	42 ft	As of right

Residential Low Density - Under § 551-75 the Zoning Officer may approve an adjustment of up to 10% from any numerical standard, including lot area, width, setbacks, coverage and height. Anything beyond 10% is a variance for the Zoning Board of Appeals.

The 15% coverage cap binds before the setbacks: on the 15,000 sq ft minimum lot it allows a 2,250 sq ft building footprint.
The Zoning Officer may approve a front setback equal to the average front yard depth on the two adjoining lots, or of the buildings on the block frontage.
An adjustment lapses if a building permit is not obtained and work commenced within a year.
The Zoning Officer may let an addition match the existing side yard of a structure that does not meet the current requirement.
Accessory buildings need 5 ft side and rear setbacks and the district front setback.
Residential development or substantial rehabilitation of 10 or more units must reserve at least 10% as attainable units on site, affordable at or below 80% of area median income for at least 50 years.

Residential Neighborhood - Under § 551-75 the Zoning Officer may approve an adjustment of up to 10% from any numerical standard, including lot area, width, setbacks, coverage and height. Anything beyond 10% is a variance for the Zoning Board of Appeals.

The Zoning Officer may approve a front setback equal to the average front yard depth on the two adjoining lots, or of the buildings on the block frontage.
On a 7,500 sq ft lot the 35% coverage cap allows 2,625 sq ft of building footprint.
An adjustment lapses if a building permit is not obtained and work commenced within a year.
The Zoning Officer may let an addition match the existing side yard of a structure that does not meet the current requirement.
Accessory buildings need 5 ft side and rear setbacks and the district front setback.
Residential development or substantial rehabilitation of 10 or more units must reserve at least 10% as attainable units on site, affordable at or below 80% of area median income for at least 50 years.

Residential Transitional Neighborhood - The figures shown are for townhouses: the minimum lot width is 25 ft for a townhouse and 50 ft for all other uses. Under § 551-75 the Zoning Officer may adjust any numerical standard by up to 10%; beyond that is a variance.

The height standard is three storeys and 42 ft, and both limits bind.
The Zoning Officer may approve a front setback equal to the average front yard depth on the two adjoining lots, or of the buildings on the block frontage.
An adjustment lapses if a building permit is not obtained and work commenced within a year.
The Zoning Officer may let an addition match the existing side yard of a structure that does not meet the current requirement.
Accessory buildings need 5 ft side and rear setbacks and the district front setback.
Residential development or substantial rehabilitation of 10 or more units must reserve at least 10% as attainable units on site, affordable at or below 80% of area median income for at least 50 years.

ADUs vs. short-term rentals in Fairport

No local short-term-rental law on record - which is not the same as permission for Village of Fairport. Fairport's zoning code has no short-term rental provision, and that is not the same as permission. The code sets its uses out in a closed table, so a use it does not name is not allowed. Confirm with Building and Code Enforcement 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 minimum0.092–0.34 ac — an ADU still has to fit the district's lot and setback envelope.
UtilityRG&E territory.
Zoning codeecode360.com/50771799
Building dept(585) 421-3207

ADU FAQ — Fairport, NY

Are ADUs allowed in Fairport, NY?

Village of Fairport has 3 districts. All districts allow ADUs. Check your address with the free ADU checker, or confirm with the building department at (585) 421-3207.

Do I need a special permit for an ADU in Fairport?

No district in Village of Fairport requires a special-use permit for an ADU - 3 districts allow ADUs. Site-plan review or a building permit may still apply.

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

No local short-term-rental law on record - which is not the same as permission for Village of Fairport. 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.

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What an ADU costs to build in Fairport

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 Fairport, priced by size.

How we know this

Sections analyzed: Ch. 551 § 551-10A and § 551-11A district purposes; Art. 5 Uses §§ 551-23 to 551-27 Table of Uses; § 551-26A conditions (1)-(7); § 551-25L conversions
Districts confirmed: 3 of 3 — every mapped district.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-11
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 Fairport: Full zoning for new construction · ADU build cost · House build cost · ADU rules across Monroe County · All Monroe County towns

ADU information for Village of Fairport is compiled from the municipal code (last reviewed 2026-10-11) 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 (585) 421-3207 before relying on any answer. Source: the Offsite / Aldo zoning dataset.