ADU · Orange County
Can you build an ADU in Palm Tree, NY?
Town of Palm Tree has 2 districts. All districts prohibit ADUs. Check your address to confirm the district that applies to your parcel:
What the Palm Tree code says
An accessory dwelling unit is not permitted in R, and § 155-18 bars using any accessory building or structure for human occupation. A second unit can come instead from a two-family or multifamily dwelling, both permitted principal uses in R.
Conditions the code attaches:
- The Town is governed by the Village of Kiryas Joel's zoning code, Chapter 155.
- Two-family and multifamily dwellings need site plan review and approval by the Planning Board under § 155-21.
- That route needs no special permit, no variance and no owner-occupancy condition.
- § 155-18 also bars a storage container, trailer or mobile home from serving as an accessory structure.
What the Palm Tree 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 | 0.046 ac | 30 / 15 / 15 ft | 50 ft | No |
| Commercial | 2 ac | 50 / 35 / 35 ft | — | No |
ADUs vs. short-term rentals in Palm Tree
No local short-term-rental law on record - which is not the same as permission for Town of Palm Tree. Palm Tree has no local short-term rental law, and that is not the same as permission. Confirm with the Town of Palm Tree before listing. 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 minimum0.046 ac — an ADU still has to fit the district's lot and setback envelope.
- UtilityOrange & Rockland territory.
- Zoning codeecode360.com/11011273
- Building dept(845) 783-8300
ADU FAQ — Palm Tree, NY
Are ADUs allowed in Palm Tree, NY?
Town of Palm Tree has 2 districts. All districts prohibit ADUs. Check your address with the free ADU checker, or confirm with the building department at (845) 783-8300.
Do I need a special permit for an ADU in Palm Tree?
No. No district in Town of Palm Tree permits an ADU, so there is no permit to apply for. Codes change, so verify with the building department at (845) 783-8300 before ruling it out.
Can I use an ADU as a short-term rental in Palm Tree?
No local short-term-rental law on record - which is not the same as permission for Town of Palm Tree. 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 Palm Tree
Permission is one question and budget is another. An 800 sq ft accessory unit here runs roughly $205k–270k 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 Palm Tree, priced by size.
How we know this
- Sections analyzed
- § 155-18 · § 155-19 · § 155-22
- Districts confirmed
- 2 of 2 — 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 Palm Tree: Full zoning for new construction · ADU build cost · House build cost · ADU rules across Orange County · All Orange County towns
ADU information for Town of Palm Tree is compiled from the municipal code (last reviewed 2026-07-14) 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) 783-8300 before relying on any answer. Source: the Offsite / Aldo zoning dataset.