Rensselaer County
City of Troy, NY: zoning for new construction
The City of Troy carries 20 zoning districts, each setting its own lot size, setbacks and height for what you can build. No local short-term-rental law on record - which is not the same as permission. Power here is National Grid territory. The district table below has the setbacks, height limits and coverage - confirm the specifics with the building department at (518) 279-7180 before you rely on a figure.
Looking specifically at an accessory dwelling unit? See ADU rules for Troy →
Zoning districts
| District | Min lot | Setbacks F / S / R | Max height | ADU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Development intensity zones set lot and building form: setbacks, height, stories and impervious coverage | ||||
| Neighborhood I Development Intensity Zone | — | 25 / 10 / 20 ft | 25 ft | — |
| Neighborhood II Development Intensity Zone | — | 0 / 0 / 10 ft | 35 ft | — |
| Neighborhood III Development Intensity Zone | — | 0 / 0 / 5 ft | 40 ft | — |
| Neighborhood IV Development Intensity Zone | — | 0 / 0 / 5 ft | 50 ft | — |
| Neighborhood V Development Intensity Zone | — | 0 / 0 / 5 ft | 60 ft | — |
| Civic/Campus Development Intensity Zone | — | — | 70 ft | — |
| Downtown I Development Intensity Zone | — | 0 / 0 / 0 ft | 64 ft | — |
| Downtown II Development Intensity Zone | — | 0 / 0 / 0 ft | 88 ft | — |
| Use districts set what may be built, including whether an accessory dwelling is allowed | ||||
| Conservation-Recreation Use District | — | — | — | No |
| Single-Family Use District | — | — | — | Occupancy restricted |
| Two-Family Use District | — | — | — | Occupancy restricted |
| Multi-Family Use District | — | — | — | Occupancy restricted |
| Neighborhood Mixed Use-1 Use District | — | — | — | Occupancy restricted |
| Neighborhood Mixed Use-2 Use District | — | — | — | As of right |
| Downtown Mixed Use Use District | — | — | — | As of right |
| Waterfront Mixed Use Use District | — | — | — | No |
| Campus-Institutional Use District | — | — | — | Occupancy restricted |
| Community Commercial Use District | — | — | — | No |
| Business Development Use District | — | — | — | No |
| Industry Use District | — | — | — | No |
Short-term rentals
No local short-term-rental law on record - which is not the same as permission. The City of Troy has no local short-term rental law, and that is not the same as permission. Confirm with the building department before counting on the use.
Conditions the code attaches:
- New York State law (Ch. 99 of the Laws of 2025) requires every short-term rental host to register the unit through the Rensselaer County registry.
- Building department: (518) 279-7180.
Good to know
- UtilityNational Grid territory.
- Zoning codeCity of Troy Chapter 285, Zoning, Land Use and Development Ordinance (Recode Troy), adopted April 6, 2023.
- Building dept(518) 279-7180
- Last reviewed2026-09-16
Working out a budget? A standard-finish build here runs $200–$262/sq ft - see the full cost to build a house in Troy, or what an ADU costs here.
Sizing up a specific parcel in Troy?
Aldo pulls the exact zoning district, setbacks, and build feasibility for any parcel — before you buy. Enter your email to open Aldo and run your free report.
Other Rensselaer County towns
All Rensselaer County zoning: Rensselaer (City) · Berlin · Brunswick · East Greenbush · Hoosick · Nassau · North Greenbush · Poestenkill · Sand Lake · Schaghticoke · Schodack · Stephentown · Castleton-on-Hudson (Village) · East Nassau (Village) · Hoosick Falls (Village) · Nassau (Village)
Zoning figures for City of Troy are compiled from the municipal code (last reviewed 2026-09-16) and provided for decision-support only - not legal, engineering, or architectural advice. Setback and dimensional standards often carry conditions and exceptions; verify with the building department at (518) 279-7180 before relying on any number. Source: the Offsite / Aldo zoning dataset.