ADU · Rensselaer County
Can you build an ADU in East Greenbush, NY?
Town of East Greenbush has 14 districts. All districts allow ADUs with occupancy restrictions. Check your address to confirm the district that applies to your parcel:
What the East Greenbush code says
An ADU needs a special use permit in every district. At a residence the permit is temporary, for up to two family members directly related to the owners or an on-premises caretaker to a family member living there, and expires when those occupants leave or the house is sold.
Conditions the code attaches:
- At a residence the unit is for noncommercial use and cannot be counted as rental income, the owners must live in the principal home and not rent it, and it may not exceed 1,000 square feet.
- Over an office, retail, tourist accommodation, warehouse or personal service premises, a unit under § 57-45B has no kinship, owner-occupancy or expiry rule and can be rented.
- That unit needs the fire inspector's written approval, at least 500 square feet of habitable floor area, a floor above the first, a separate outside entrance and two off-street parking spaces.
- It is barred over filling stations, stores selling flammable or fume-producing goods, and restaurants or other businesses with kitchens or intense heat.
- It is also barred over any establishment the fire inspector finds poses a greater-than-average built-in risk.
- Only one such unit is allowed per building or premises, and it cannot be sold except as part of a sale of the whole building.
What the East Greenbush 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture-Residential District | 5 ac | 50 / 50 / 50 ft | 35 ft | Occupancy restricted |
| Residential-Open Space District | 2 ac | 50 / 50 / 50 ft | 35 ft | Occupancy restricted |
| Residential-Buffer District | 1.5 ac | 40 / 25 / 30 ft | 35 ft | Occupancy restricted |
| Residential District | 0.29 ac | 35 / 10 / 25 ft | 35 ft | Occupancy restricted |
| Residential District | 0.21 ac | 35 / 8 / 25 ft | 35 ft | Occupancy restricted |
| Residential District | 0.17 ac | 25 / 8 / 25 ft | 35 ft | Occupancy restricted |
| Residential District | 0.23 ac | 25 / 25 / 25 ft | 40 ft | Occupancy restricted |
| Personal/Professional District | 1 ac | 25 / 12 / 25 ft | 35 ft | Occupancy restricted |
| General Business Mixed Use District | 0.5 ac | 0 / 12 / 12 ft | 50 ft | Occupancy restricted |
| General Business District | 0.5 ac | 25 / 12 / 12 ft | 50 ft | Occupancy restricted |
| Corporate Office Only District | 5 ac | 25 / 12 / 25 ft | 50 ft | Occupancy restricted |
| Corporate Office/Regional Commercial District | 5 ac | 25 / 12 / 25 ft | 50 ft | Occupancy restricted |
| Corporate Office/Light Industrial District | 3 ac | 35 / 12 / 25 ft | 50 ft | Occupancy restricted |
| Coastal Industrial District | 10 ac | 50 / 25 / 25 ft | 50 ft | Occupancy restricted |
ADUs vs. short-term rentals in East Greenbush
No local short-term-rental law on record - which is not the same as permission for Town of East Greenbush. The Town of East Greenbush has no local short-term rental law, and that is not the same as permission. Confirm with the building department 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 minimum0.17–5 ac — an ADU still has to fit the district's lot and setback envelope.
- UtilityNational Grid territory.
- Zoning codeecode360.com/38968885
- Building dept(518) 477-6225
ADU FAQ — East Greenbush, NY
Are ADUs allowed in East Greenbush, NY?
Town of East Greenbush has 14 districts. All districts allow ADUs with occupancy restrictions. Check your address with the free ADU checker, or confirm with the building department at (518) 477-6225.
Do I need a special permit for an ADU in East Greenbush?
No district in Town of East Greenbush requires a special-use permit for an ADU - 14 districts allow ADUs with occupancy restrictions. Site-plan review or a building permit may still apply.
Can I use an ADU as a short-term rental in East Greenbush?
No local short-term-rental law on record - which is not the same as permission for Town of East Greenbush. 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 East Greenbush
Permission is one question and budget is another. An 800 sq ft accessory unit here runs roughly $195k–255k 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 East Greenbush, priced by size.
How we know this
- Districts confirmed
- 14 of 14 — 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 East Greenbush: Full zoning for new construction · ADU build cost · House build cost · ADU rules across Rensselaer County · All Rensselaer County towns
ADU information for Town of East Greenbush is compiled from the municipal code (last reviewed 2026-08-05) 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 (518) 477-6225 before relying on any answer. Source: the Offsite / Aldo zoning dataset.