Rockland County
Town of Ramapo, NY: zoning for new construction
Residential lots in the Town of Ramapo run from a 0.34-acre minimum in Residential R-15 up to 4 acres in Specialized Housing Residential, across 24 zoning districts in all. No local short-term-rental law on record - which is not the same as permission. Power here is Orange & Rockland territory. The district table below has the setbacks, height limits and coverage - confirm the specifics with the building department at (845) 357-5100 before you rely on a figure.
Looking specifically at an accessory dwelling unit? See ADU rules for Ramapo →
Zoning districts
| District | Min lot | Setbacks F / S / R | Max height | ADU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential RR-160 | 3.67 ac | 50 / 30 / 50 ft | 35 ft | Special permit |
| Residential RR-80 | 1.84 ac | 50 / 30 / 50 ft | 35 ft | Special permit |
| Residential RR-50 | 1.15 ac | 50 / 30 / 50 ft | 35 ft | No |
| Residential R-40 | 0.92 ac | 50 / 25 / 50 ft | 35 ft | No |
| Residential R-40A, Mixed Lot Sizes | 0.92 ac | 50 / 25 / 50 ft | 35 ft | No |
| Residential R-35 | 0.8 ac | 50 / 25 / 50 ft | 35 ft | No |
| Residential R-25 | 0.57 ac | 35 / 20 / 35 ft | 35 ft | No |
| Residential R-15 | 0.34 ac | 35 / 15 / 35 ft | 35 ft | No |
| Residential R-15A, Accessory Apartments Permitted | 0.34 ac | 35 / 15 / 35 ft | 35 ft | As of right |
| Density Residential Conversion | 0.34 ac | 35 / 15 / 35 ft | 35 ft | As of right |
| Mixed Residential | 0.34 ac | 35 / 15 / 35 ft | 35 ft | No |
| Multifamily MR-16 | 4 ac | 35 / 35 / 35 ft | 40 ft | No |
| Neighborhood Shopping | 0.46 ac | 30 / 0 / 25 ft | 30 ft | No |
| Community Shopping | 0.92 ac | 35 / 20 / 35 ft | 35 ft | No |
| Professional Office | 0.46 ac | 30 / 0 / 25 ft | 30 ft | No |
| Laboratory-Office | 1.38 ac | 75 / 75 / 75 ft | 45 ft | No |
| Planned Industry | 0.92 ac | 75 / 50 / 50 ft | 45 ft | No |
| Multifamily MR-12 | — | — | — | No |
| Multifamily MR-8 | — | — | — | No |
| Specialized Housing Residential | 4 ac | 50 / 50 / 50 ft | 35 ft | No |
| Mixed Use MU-1 | 0.46 ac | 20 / 0 / 25 ft | 45 ft | No |
| Mixed Use MU-2 | 10 ac | 100 / 80 / 50 ft | 45 ft | No |
| Mixed Use MU-3 | 200 ac | 100 / 80 / 50 ft | 45 ft | No |
| Commercial Corridor | 0.57 ac | 35 / 20 / 35 ft | 35 ft | No |
Residential RR-160 - Side setbacks must total 100 ft, so 30 ft on each side will not do; a workable layout is closer to 50 ft and 50 ft. The lot also needs 150 ft of street frontage, a separate standard from the 200 ft lot width.
- The 20% coverage cap is a development coverage, not just a building footprint cap, so it counts more than the house itself.
- The setback figures are what the principal building must keep. Accessory structures and projections follow smaller yard standards published alongside them.
Residential RR-80 - The side setbacks must add to at least 100 ft for the pair, so 30 ft on each side falls 40 ft short. Street frontage of 150 feet is required as well as the lot width shown, and the two are separate standards.
- Adult student housing answers to a different row by special permit: 4 acres on 400 ft of width, 35 ft to each side and 70 ft for the pair, 40 ft of height, 65% coverage and a 0.75 floor area ratio.
- The front setback for that row depends on the road it fronts: 50 ft on a Town or County road and 100 ft on a State road.
- The coverage shown is development coverage, not a building-footprint cap, so it counts more than the building.
- The setbacks shown are what the principal building must keep; an accessory structure or a projection keeps a smaller yard figure.
Residential RR-50 - The side setbacks must add to at least 75 ft for the pair, so 30 ft on each side falls 15 ft short. Street frontage of 100 feet is required as well as the lot width shown, and the two are separate standards.
- The coverage shown is development coverage, not a building-footprint cap, so it counts more than the building.
- The setbacks shown are what the principal building must keep; an accessory structure or a projection keeps a smaller yard figure.
Residential R-40 - The side setbacks must add to at least 70 ft for the pair, so 25 ft on each side falls 20 ft short. Street frontage of 100 feet is required as well as the lot width shown, and the two are separate standards.
- A house of worship in this district takes two acres on two hundred feet of width, with a hundred-foot front setback.
- The coverage shown is development coverage, not a building-footprint cap, so it counts more than the building.
- The setbacks shown are what the principal building must keep; an accessory structure or a projection keeps a smaller yard figure.
Residential R-40A, Mixed Lot Sizes - § 376-20 describes this district as permitting mixed lot sizes, and § 376-1213 governs residential development here. Street frontage of 100 feet is required as well as the lot width shown, and the two are separate standards.
- The 25 ft side setback applies to each side, and the pair must add to at least 70 ft.
- The coverage shown is development coverage, not a building-footprint cap, so it counts more than the building.
- The setbacks shown are what the principal building must keep; an accessory structure or a projection keeps a smaller yard figure.
Residential R-35 - The side setbacks must add to at least 60 ft for the pair, so 25 ft on each side falls 10 ft short. Street frontage of 100 feet is required as well as the lot width shown, and the two are separate standards.
- The coverage shown is development coverage, not a building-footprint cap, so it counts more than the building.
- The setbacks shown are what the principal building must keep; an accessory structure or a projection keeps a smaller yard figure.
Residential R-25 - The side setbacks must add to at least 50 ft for the pair, so 20 ft on each side falls 10 ft short. Street frontage of 90 feet is required as well as the lot width shown, and the two are separate standards.
- The coverage shown is development coverage, not a building-footprint cap, so it counts more than the building.
- The setbacks shown are what the principal building must keep; an accessory structure or a projection keeps a smaller yard figure.
Residential R-15 - The side setbacks must add to at least 40 ft for the pair, so 15 ft on each side falls 10 ft short. Street frontage of 85 feet is required as well as the lot width shown, and the two are separate standards.
- A two-family detached house needs 0.4591 acres on 125 ft of width, a 20 ft side setback with 50 ft for the pair, coverage up to 55%, and street frontage of 125 ft rather than 85 ft.
- The coverage shown is development coverage, not a building-footprint cap, so it counts more than the building.
- The setbacks shown are what the principal building must keep; an accessory structure or a projection keeps a smaller yard figure.
Residential R-15A, Accessory Apartments Permitted - Street frontage of 85 feet is required as well as the lot width shown, and the two are separate standards.
- A semiattached house takes 0.2296 acres on 62.5 ft of width with a 20 ft side setback but only 20 ft for the pair, so one side may carry nearly all of it, and coverage rises to 55%.
- The coverage shown is development coverage, not a building-footprint cap, so it counts more than the building.
- The setbacks shown are what the principal building must keep; an accessory structure or a projection keeps a smaller yard figure.
Density Residential Conversion - Footnotes that apply only in this district raise the height from 35 ft to 40 ft, with the stated purpose of enhancing roof design, and the floor area ratio from 0.40 to 0.90.
- A semiattached house takes 0.2296 acres on 62.5 ft of width with 55% coverage, and a 20 ft side setback that footnotes here cut to 10 ft, with 10 ft for the pair and 30 ft to the rear.
- Multifamily needs at least 0.9183 acres, which the table calls an inextricable element of the use rather than a dimension, on 150 ft of width, with 40 ft of height and 65% coverage.
- Multifamily side setbacks may be cut to 10 ft, and the pair to 20 ft, for parking but not for structures, and balconies and decks projecting no more than 12 ft are excluded from the rear yard.
- Converting an existing one-family detached house falls under a further row at two acres, and large-lot development here is governed by § 376-67.
- Street frontage of 85 feet is required as well as the lot width shown, and the two are separate standards.
- The coverage shown is development coverage, not a building-footprint cap, and the setbacks shown are what the principal building must keep, where an accessory structure keeps a smaller yard figure.
Mixed Residential - The figures shown are for a one-family house; the other uses that define this district each come with their own complete set of figures. Street frontage of 85 feet is required as well as the lot width shown.
- Townhouses and garden apartments need 15 acres by special permit on 150 ft of width, 25 ft front and rear, 15 ft each side with 30 ft for the pair, 40 ft of height and 65% coverage.
- A semiattached house takes 0.2296 acres on 62.5 ft of width, with a 20 ft side setback and 20 ft for the pair, and 55% coverage.
- The coverage shown is development coverage, not a building-footprint cap, so it counts more than the building.
- The setbacks shown are what the principal building must keep; an accessory structure or a projection keeps a smaller yard figure.
Multifamily MR-16 - The 4-acre minimum is for a multifamily building, and density is capped at 16 units per acre.
- A house of worship here needs a hundred and sixty thousand square feet instead.
- Street frontage of 150 feet is required as well as the lot width shown, and the two are separate standards.
- The coverage shown is development coverage, not a building-footprint cap, so it counts more than the building.
- The setbacks shown are what the principal building must keep; an accessory structure or a projection keeps a smaller yard figure.
Neighborhood Shopping, Professional Office - No side yard is required in this district, but one that is provided must be at least ten feet. Street frontage of 100 feet is required as well as the lot width shown, and the two are separate standards.
- The coverage shown is development coverage, not a building-footprint cap, so it counts more than the building.
- The setbacks shown are what the principal building must keep; an accessory structure or a projection keeps a smaller yard figure.
Community Shopping - The figures shown are for other retail stores and service establishments. A parking lot or garage, an automotive washing or repair facility, a restaurant, a theatre and a warehouse each follow a different row of figures.
- A warehouse associated with retail is capped at thirty thousand square feet.
- Street frontage of 200 feet is required as well as the lot width shown, and the two are separate standards.
- The coverage shown is development coverage, not a building-footprint cap, so it counts more than the building.
- The setbacks shown are what the principal building must keep; an accessory structure or a projection keeps a smaller yard figure.
Laboratory-Office - Street frontage of 100 feet is required as well as the lot width shown, and the two are separate standards. Active adult senior citizen housing developments here are governed separately by § 376-167.
- The coverage shown is development coverage, not a building-footprint cap, so it counts more than the building.
- The setbacks shown are what the principal building must keep; an accessory structure or a projection keeps a smaller yard figure.
Planned Industry - Street frontage of 100 feet is required as well as the lot width shown, and the two are separate standards. Sales and showroom facilities here are governed separately by § 376-1211.
- The coverage shown is development coverage, not a building-footprint cap, so it counts more than the building.
- The setbacks shown are what the principal building must keep; an accessory structure or a projection keeps a smaller yard figure.
Multifamily MR-12 - Beyond the density shown, the code publishes no lot area, width, setback, height or coverage figures for this district.
- The building department is the only source for these standards on a parcel here.
Multifamily MR-8 - The density shown is the only standard the code publishes for this district: no row of its table of bulk requirements reaches it.
- Confirm any lot, setback or height requirement with the building department.
Specialized Housing Residential - Nothing is permitted by right in this district, so the figures shown describe a Town Board special permit rather than an entitlement. They are the figures for active adult senior citizen housing under § 376-163.
- For that use, the floor area ratio of 0.40 rises to 0.60 on a site of less than fifteen acres, and coverage is set by reference to § 376-163 rather than as a number.
- Housing for the physically handicapped under § 376-166 takes two acres on two hundred feet of width, with a fifty-foot front setback, fifteen feet of height and forty percent coverage.
- Congregate care under § 376-164 and assisted living each take ten acres on four hundred feet of width, with a hundred-foot front setback.
- Congregate care and assisted living are also held to a forty-five-foot height, thirty percent coverage and a floor area ratio of 0.30.
- The setbacks shown are what the principal building must keep; an accessory structure or a projection keeps a smaller yard figure.
Mixed Use MU-1 - § 376-20 describes this district as at least sixty percent commercial with some residential. No side yard is required, but one that is provided must be at least ten feet.
- The coverage shown is development coverage, not a building-footprint cap.
- The setbacks shown are what the principal building must keep; an accessory structure or a projection keeps a smaller yard figure.
Mixed Use MU-2 - § 376-20 describes this district as residential with up to fifty percent commercial. A lot needs 600 ft of street frontage as well as the lot width shown.
- The coverage shown is development coverage, not a building-footprint cap.
- The setbacks shown are what the principal building must keep; an accessory structure or a projection keeps a smaller yard figure.
Mixed Use MU-3 - The 200-acre minimum is part of the use itself, so a mixed-use development here is prohibited on anything smaller. It may be assembled from several adjacent tax lots in common ownership if the gross total is reached within the Town of Ramapo.
- The Town Board may increase the 45 ft height under § 376-1219B, so it is a starting point rather than a ceiling.
- The coverage shown is development coverage, not a building-footprint cap.
- The setbacks shown are what the principal building must keep; an accessory structure or a projection keeps a smaller yard figure.
Commercial Corridor - The figures shown are for garden apartments, townhouses and multiple family dwellings under § 376-66C. Every commercial use permitted here borrows its figures from another district by cross-reference, so it answers to whichever district the use table points to.
- § 376-20 describes this district as at least seventy percent commercial or office use.
- A gas station needs a Planning Board special permit and takes sixty thousand square feet on two hundred and fifty feet of width, with a twenty-five-foot height cap.
- A theatre or cinema takes two acres on three hundred feet of width with a sixty-foot front setback, and a school takes eighty thousand square feet.
- The coverage shown is development coverage, not a building-footprint cap.
- The setbacks shown are what the principal building must keep; an accessory structure or a projection keeps a smaller yard figure.
Short-term rentals
No local short-term-rental law on record - which is not the same as permission. Ramapo has no local short-term rental law, and Chapter 376 of the town code has no short-term rental ban or registry. That is not the same as permission, so confirm with the building department before counting on the use.
Conditions the code attaches:
- Rentals of dwellings fall under the town's general rental-property provisions and its property-maintenance code.
- The building department can confirm the current position at (845) 357-5100.
Good to know
- UtilityOrange & Rockland territory.
- Zoning codeTown of Ramapo, Zoning, Chapter 376, § 376-20 as amended through 11-9-2022.
- Building dept(845) 357-5100
- Last reviewed2026-07-20
Working out a budget? A standard-finish build here runs $229–$300/sq ft , and a conforming lot adds about $14,874 on top - see the full cost to build a house in Ramapo, or what an ADU costs here.
Sizing up a specific parcel in Ramapo?
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Zoning figures for Town of Ramapo are compiled from the municipal code (last reviewed 2026-07-20) 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 (845) 357-5100 before relying on any number. Source: the Offsite / Aldo zoning dataset.