Can you build an ADU in Nelsonville, NY?

Village Residential - A dwelling containing one or two units is permitted by right on the same 9,000 sq ft, so a second unit needs no extra land and no discretionary approval. A three-unit dwelling is reachable on that same lot area with site plan approval from the Planning Board.

• Only one such dwelling is permitted per lot.
• A shape test applies on top of lot area: a square 75 ft on a side must fit on the lot, so a long narrow parcel can fail even at full size.
• Side and rear distances run from property lines: 8 ft from one side property line and 12 ft from any other property line.
• The street setback is 20 ft whether the street is a state highway or not.
• Minimum floor area is 720 sq ft for a dwelling and 500 sq ft for each dwelling unit, village-wide.
• Only finished livable area with a ceiling of at least 7 1/2 ft counts toward floor area; garages, carports, terraces, porches and low basement space are excluded.

Village Secondary Residential - A dwelling containing one or two units is permitted by right, and the second unit needs no extra land and no discretionary approval. A square 95 ft on a side must also fit within the lot, so a long narrow parcel can fail even at full size.

• Only one dwelling is permitted per lot, and a three-unit dwelling is not available in SR.
• A lot fronting a state highway owes a 30 ft setback from the street line; the street figure shown applies to any other street.
• Side and rear distances come from a single setback measured from the property line, which governs both alike.
• Minimum floor area is 720 sq ft for a dwelling and 500 sq ft for each dwelling unit.
• Only finished livable area with a ceiling of at least 7 1/2 ft counts, reached by a permanent inside stairway where it is not the ground floor.
• Garages, carports, terraces, porches and basement space less than four feet above the surrounding ground do not count toward floor area.

Hillside Residential - A square 150 ft on a side must fit on the lot, so a long narrow parcel can fail even at full acreage. A dwelling of one or two units is permitted by right, with no additional land needed for the second unit, but only one such dwelling is allowed per lot.

• The 150 ft square test is wider than the 135 ft minimum lot width, so the lot must widen behind its frontage to comply.
• Setbacks run from the street line and from property lines, with the property line setback governing side and rear alike.
• The 60 ft street setback applies whether the street is a state highway or not.
• Minimum floor area is 720 sq ft for a dwelling and 500 sq ft for each dwelling unit, village-wide.
• Only finished livable area with a ceiling of at least 7 1/2 ft counts; garages, carports, terraces, porches and basement space less than four feet above the surrounding ground are excluded.

Mountain Residential - A dwelling containing one or two dwelling units is permitted by right, and the second unit requires no additional land and no discretionary approval. A lot must also fit a 200 ft square, so a long narrow parcel can fail the test even at full area.

• Only one such dwelling is permitted per lot.
• The 175 ft frontage minimum sits alongside the 200 ft square test, so the lot has to widen behind its frontage.
• The 60 ft street setback applies whether the street is a state highway or any other street.
• Setbacks run from the street line and from the property line, with the property line figure governing side and rear alike.
• Minimum floor area is 720 sq ft for a dwelling and 500 sq ft for each dwelling unit, village-wide.
• Only finished livable area with a ceiling of at least 7 1/2 ft counts; garages, carports, terraces, porches and basement space less than four feet above the surrounding ground are excluded.

Multifamily Residential - Up to six dwelling units on one lot are permitted with site plan approval from the Planning Board, with no per-unit land requirement. One and two unit dwellings are allowed by right, and a three unit dwelling with site plan approval.

• A square 150 ft on a side must fit within the lot, so a long narrow parcel can fail the test even at full lot area.
• The 70 ft setback applies on every side, measured from the street line, state highway or not, and from any property line.
• Minimum floor area is 720 sq ft for a dwelling and 500 sq ft for each dwelling unit.
• Only finished livable area with a ceiling of at least 7 1/2 ft counts toward floor area. Garages, carports, terraces, porches and low basement space are excluded.
• Basement space less than four feet above the surrounding ground does not count toward floor area.
• Above the ground floor, space counts as livable area only where it is reached by a permanent inside stairway.

Village Business - A dwelling with one or two units is permitted by right, and the second unit needs no additional land and no discretionary approval. Only one dwelling is allowed per lot. A three-unit dwelling is possible with site plan approval.

• A square 75 ft on a side must fit within the lot, so a long, narrow parcel can fail the test even at full lot size.
• A 20 ft setback from any residence district boundary line applies on top of the setback from a property line.
• Setbacks run from a street line, with separate figures for a state highway and for any other street, and from a property line for side and rear alike.
• Adjoining owners may agree to eliminate the setback from a common property line, or reduce it to five feet each side, by agreement recorded with the Putnam County Clerk.
• That agreement requires a fire-protection access easement at least 10 ft wide reaching the rear of the buildings.
• Minimum floor area is 720 sq ft for a dwelling and 500 sq ft for each dwelling unit; only finished livable area with a ceiling of at least 7 1/2 ft counts.

Commercial - One and two unit dwellings are not permitted here; the only residential use is a dwelling for a watchman, caretaker or the proprietor of a permitted business. A 40 ft setback from any residence district boundary line applies on top of the 20 ft property line setback.

• A shape test also applies: a square 100 ft on a side must fit on the lot, so a long narrow parcel can fail even at full area.
• The 20 ft street setback shown is for streets other than a state highway; a lot fronting a state highway owes 40 ft.
• The side and rear figures come from a single property line setback that governs side and rear alike.
• Minimum floor area is 720 sq ft for a dwelling and 500 sq ft for each dwelling unit, village-wide.
• Only finished livable area with a ceiling of at least 7 1/2 ft counts toward floor area; garages, carports, terraces and porches are excluded.