Saratoga County
Town of Halfmoon, NY: zoning for new construction
The Town of Halfmoon sets a residential minimum of about 0.46 acres in A-R Agricultural Residential, one of its 12 zoning districts. 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) 371-7410 x2260 before you rely on a figure.
Looking specifically at an accessory dwelling unit? See ADU rules for Halfmoon →
Zoning districts
| District | Min lot | Setbacks F / S / R | Max height | ADU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A-R Agricultural Residential | 0.46 ac | 50 / 15 / 50 ft | 35 ft | No |
| R-1 Residential | 0.46 ac | 50 / 15 / 50 ft | 35 ft | No |
| R-2 Residence | 0.46 ac | 50 / 15 / 50 ft | 35 ft | No |
| R-3 Residence | 0.46 ac | 50 / 15 / 50 ft | 35 ft | No |
| PO-R Professional Office Residential | 0.57 ac | 70 / 10 / 30 ft | 35 ft | No |
| C-1 Commercial | 0.57 ac | 50 / 15 / 25 ft | 35 ft | No |
| LI-C Light Industrial Commercial | 0.92 ac | 50 / 15 / 30 ft | 35 ft | No |
| M-1 Industrial | 0.92 ac | 50 / 15 / 25 ft | 35 ft | No |
| M-2 Industrial | 0.92 ac | 50 / 15 / 25 ft | 35 ft | No |
| NB-1 Neighborhood Business | 0.46 ac | 50 / 10 / 30 ft | 35 ft | No |
| W-1 Waterfront | 0.57 ac | 50 / 15 / 25 ft | 35 ft | No |
| W-2 Waterfront | 0.57 ac | 50 / 15 / 25 ft | 35 ft | No |
A-R Agricultural Residential - The minimum lot shown needs public sewer and water. With only one of them a lot needs 30,000 sq ft on 150 ft of width, and with neither 40,000 sq ft on 150 ft.
- On Route 9 (including at Grooms Road and at Guideboard Road), Route 236 and Routes 4 and 32 (both sides), Schedule A requires 25,000 sq ft on 150 ft of width, whatever the district.
- On Route 146 a lot needs 28,000 sq ft on 150 ft of width with a 70 ft front yard, and on the west side of Routes 4 and 32 the front yard is 70 ft, whatever the district.
- A farm needs 80,000 sq ft on 150 ft of width, with 30% coverage, 50 ft side yards and 100 ft for both sides combined.
- Special-permit uses need larger lots and at least 20% green space: 120,000 sq ft on 200 ft for a church, and 80,000 sq ft on 150 ft for a public utility or cemetery.
- A marina, funeral home or recreation area-club needs 40,000 sq ft on 200 ft at 25% coverage, and a convalescent or nursing home 2,000 sq ft per bed on 200 ft.
- The Planning Board may require larger lots for any special-permit use, depending on the availability of public water and/or sewer.
R-1 Residential - The minimum lot shown needs public sewer and water. With only one of them a lot needs 30,000 sq ft on 150 ft of width, and with neither 40,000 sq ft on 150 ft.
- On Route 9 (including at Grooms Road and at Guideboard Road), Route 236 and Routes 4 and 32 (both sides), Schedule A requires 25,000 sq ft on 150 ft of width, whatever the district.
- On Route 146 a lot needs 28,000 sq ft on 150 ft of width with a 70 ft front yard, and on the west side of Routes 4 and 32 the front yard is 70 ft, whatever the district.
- Special-permit uses need larger lots: 120,000 sq ft for a church, 40,000 sq ft on 200 ft for a marina, funeral home or recreation area-club, and 80,000 sq ft for a public utility or cemetery.
- A convalescent or nursing home needs 2,000 sq ft per bed.
- The Planning Board may require larger lots for any of these special-permit uses, depending on utility availability.
R-2 Residence - The minimum lot shown needs public sewer and water. With only one of them a lot needs 30,000 sq ft on 150 ft of width, and with neither 40,000 sq ft on 150 ft.
- A mobile home park is a special-permit use here, the only district where one is possible. Its standards are set by the Trailer Ordinance of the Town of Halfmoon, not by the zoning schedule.
- On Route 9 (including at Grooms Road and at Guideboard Road), Route 236 and Routes 4 and 32 (both sides), Schedule A requires 25,000 sq ft on 150 ft of width, whatever the district.
- On Route 146 a lot needs 28,000 sq ft on 150 ft of width with a 70 ft front yard, and on the west side of Routes 4 and 32 the front yard is 70 ft, whatever the district.
R-3 Residence - The minimum lot shown needs public sewer and water. With only one of them a lot needs 30,000 sq ft on 150 ft of width, and with neither 40,000 sq ft on 150 ft.
- A three-family dwelling needs 30,000, 40,000 or 50,000 sq ft and a four-family 40,000, 50,000 or 60,000 sq ft, by utility service, both on 150 ft of width.
- Three- and four-family dwellings are held to 25% coverage and a 30 ft rear yard rather than 50 ft, and work out at 10,000 sq ft a unit only when fully serviced.
- All uses allowed by special permit in R-1 are also admitted here, on the R-1 figures for each use.
- On Route 9 (including at Grooms Road and at Guideboard Road), Route 236 and Routes 4 and 32 (both sides), Schedule A requires 25,000 sq ft on 150 ft of width, whatever the district.
- On Route 146 a lot needs 28,000 sq ft on 150 ft of width with a 70 ft front yard, and on the west side of Routes 4 and 32 the front yard is 70 ft, whatever the district.
PO-R Professional Office Residential - The minimum lot shown needs public sewer and water. With only one of them a lot needs 35,000 sq ft, and with neither 45,000 sq ft.
- At least 20% of the lot must be green space, a minimum planted area that is separate from the building coverage cap.
- All uses allowed by special permit in R-1 are also admitted here, on the R-1 figures for each use.
- On Route 9 (including at Grooms Road and at Guideboard Road), Route 236 and Routes 4 and 32 (both sides), Schedule A requires 25,000 sq ft on 150 ft of width, whatever the district.
- On Route 146 a lot needs 28,000 sq ft on 150 ft of width with a 70 ft front yard, and on the west side of Routes 4 and 32 the front yard is 70 ft, whatever the district.
C-1 Commercial - The 25,000 sq ft minimum lot requires site plan approval, the ability to connect to public sewer and water, and room to meet parking setback and green space requirements. With only one utility a lot needs 35,000 sq ft, and with neither 45,000 sq ft.
- Where the lot is next to a residential district, the combined side yard and the rear yard follow the transition yard requirements of § 165-32F.
- The 50% building coverage is subject to site plan review and approval.
- A building taller than 35 ft may be submitted to the Planning Board as part of the site plan.
- At least 20% of the lot must be green space, a minimum planted area that is separate from the building coverage cap.
- On Route 9 (including at Grooms Road and at Guideboard Road), Route 236 and Routes 4 and 32 (both sides), Schedule A requires 25,000 sq ft on 150 ft of width, whatever the district.
- On Route 146 a lot needs 28,000 sq ft on 150 ft of width with a 70 ft front yard, and on the west side of Routes 4 and 32 the front yard is 70 ft, whatever the district.
LI-C Light Industrial Commercial, M-1 Industrial - The minimum lot shown needs public sewer and water. With only one of them a lot needs 50,000 sq ft, and with neither 60,000 sq ft.
- Where the lot is next to a residential district, the combined side yard and the rear yard follow the transition yard requirements of § 165-32F.
- The 50% building coverage is subject to site plan review and approval.
- A building taller than 35 ft may be submitted to the Planning Board as part of the site plan.
- At least 20% of the lot must be green space, a minimum planted area that is separate from the building coverage cap.
- On Route 9 (including at Grooms Road and at Guideboard Road), Route 236 and Routes 4 and 32 (both sides), Schedule A requires 25,000 sq ft on 150 ft of width, whatever the district.
- On Route 146 a lot needs 28,000 sq ft on 150 ft of width with a 70 ft front yard, and on the west side of Routes 4 and 32 the front yard is 70 ft, whatever the district.
M-2 Industrial - The minimum lot shown needs public sewer and water. With only one of them a lot needs 50,000 sq ft, and with neither 60,000 sq ft; a residential use follows the R-1 and A-R residential figures instead.
- For a residential use that means 20,000 sq ft on 100 ft with public sewer and water, 30,000 sq ft on 150 ft with one, 40,000 sq ft on 150 ft with neither, 20% coverage and a 50 ft rear yard.
- Where the lot is next to a residential district, the combined side yard and the rear yard follow the transition yard requirements of § 165-32F.
- The 50% building coverage is subject to site plan review and approval.
- A building taller than 35 ft may be submitted to the Planning Board as part of the site plan.
- At least 20% of the lot must be green space, a minimum planted area that is separate from the building coverage cap.
- On Route 9 (including at Grooms Road and at Guideboard Road), Route 236 and Routes 4 and 32 (both sides), Schedule A requires 25,000 sq ft on 150 ft of width, whatever the district.
NB-1 Neighborhood Business - The Planning Board may consider a lot as small as 10,000 sq ft under the conditions set in § 165-17B(3). The 20,000 sq ft minimum is a single figure that does not change with utility service.
- At least 20% of the lot must be green space, a minimum planted area that is separate from the building coverage cap.
- On Route 9 (including at Grooms Road and at Guideboard Road), Route 236 and Routes 4 and 32 (both sides), Schedule A requires 25,000 sq ft on 150 ft of width, whatever the district.
- On Route 146 a lot needs 28,000 sq ft on 150 ft of width with a 70 ft front yard, and on the west side of Routes 4 and 32 the front yard is 70 ft, whatever the district.
W-1 Waterfront - A dwelling here must meet the R-1 and A-R residential figures, not the commercial ones shown: 20,000 sq ft on 100 ft with public sewer and water, rising to 40,000 sq ft on 150 ft with neither, at 20% coverage and a 50 ft rear yard.
- For other uses the 25,000 sq ft lot requires site plan approval, the ability to connect to public sewer and water, and room to meet parking setback and green space requirements.
- With only one utility a non-residential lot needs 35,000 sq ft, and with neither 45,000 sq ft.
- Where the lot is next to a residential district, the combined side yard and the rear yard follow the transition yard requirements of § 165-32F.
- The 50% building coverage is subject to site plan review and approval.
- A building taller than 35 ft may be submitted to the Planning Board as part of the site plan.
- On Route 9 (including at Grooms Road and at Guideboard Road), Route 236 and Routes 4 and 32 (both sides), Schedule A requires 25,000 sq ft on 150 ft of width, whatever the district.
W-2 Waterfront - The figures shown apply to uses also permitted in W-1. A use also permitted in M-2 needs 40,000, 50,000 or 60,000 sq ft by utility service, and a dwelling must meet the R-1 and A-R residential figures.
- For a dwelling that means 20,000 sq ft on 100 ft of width with public sewer and water and 40,000 sq ft on 150 ft with neither, at 20% coverage with a 50 ft rear yard.
- For uses also permitted in W-1, the 25,000 sq ft lot requires site plan approval, the ability to connect to public sewer and water, and room to meet parking setback and green space requirements.
- For uses also permitted in W-1, a lot needs 35,000 sq ft with only one utility and 45,000 sq ft with neither.
- Where the lot is next to a residential district, the combined side yard and the rear yard follow the transition yard requirements of § 165-32F.
- A building taller than 35 ft may be submitted to the Planning Board as part of the site plan.
- On Route 9 (including at Grooms Road and at Guideboard Road), Route 236 and Routes 4 and 32 (both sides), Schedule A requires 25,000 sq ft on 150 ft of width, whatever the district.
Short-term rentals
No local short-term-rental law on record - which is not the same as permission. The Town of Halfmoon has no local short-term rental law, and that is not the same as permission. Confirm with Building & Code Enforcement before counting on short-term rental income.
Conditions the code attaches:
- The nearest defined use, a bed-and-breakfast homestay, is an owner-occupied home with no more than three guest rooms serving breakfast to overnight guests only, not a whole-house rental.
- Building & Code Enforcement: (518) 371-7410 x2260.
- Since 2025 New York State has required every short-term rental host to register the unit with the State through the county registry, regardless of local rules.
Good to know
- UtilityNational Grid territory.
- Zoning codeTown of Halfmoon Zoning, Ch. 165, Schedule A (165 Attachment 1), amended through 5-21-2025 by L.L. No. 1-2025
- Building dept(518) 371-7410 x2260
- Last reviewed2026-07-27
Working out a budget? A standard-finish build here runs $204–$268/sq ft , and a conforming lot adds about $28,644 on top - see the full cost to build a house in Halfmoon, or what an ADU costs here.
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Zoning figures for Town of Halfmoon are compiled from the municipal code (last reviewed 2026-07-27) 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) 371-7410 x2260 before relying on any number. Source: the Offsite / Aldo zoning dataset.