Sullivan County
Town of Delaware, NY: zoning for new construction
Residential lots in the Town of Delaware run from a 0.92-acre minimum in Residential District up to 1.84 acres in Rural District, across 7 zoning districts in all. Short-term rentals allowed with local rules. Power here is NYSEG territory. The district table below has the setbacks, height limits and coverage - confirm the specifics with the building department at (845) 887-5250 before you rely on a figure.
Looking specifically at an accessory dwelling unit? See ADU rules for Delaware →
Zoning districts
| District | Min lot | Setbacks F / S / R | Max height | ADU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware River District | 2 ac | 50 / 50 / 50 ft | 35 ft | No |
| Residential District | 0.92 ac | 50 / 30 / 50 ft | 35 ft | No |
| Rural District | 1.84 ac | 50 / 30 / 50 ft | 45 ft | No |
| Business District | 0.17 ac | 20 / 10 / 30 ft | 60 ft | No |
| Callicoon Business District | 2 ac | 50 / 25 / 25 ft | 40 ft | No |
| Callicoon Residential District | 0.92 ac | 50 / 30 / 50 ft | 35 ft | No |
| Planned Unit Development District | 0.92 ac | 50 / 30 / 50 ft | 45 ft | No |
Delaware River District - The Delaware River District asks 2 acres, a 200 foot lot width and depth, 50 feet front, 50 feet to one side with 100 feet for both sides, and 50 feet rear. Building height stops at 35 feet and lot coverage at 10,000 square feet or 15%, whichever is less.
- Residential density may not exceed one dwelling unit per two acres.
- No building, structure or part of a septic system may stand within 100 feet of the normal high water mark of the Delaware River, and a new lot bordering the river needs 200 feet of frontage along it.
- On a street whose right of way is under 50 feet, the front yard is measured from the center line of the roadway and 25 feet is added.
- Cluster development is a special use on a contiguous parcel of at least 5 acres.
- A cluster lot on on-site water or sewage may fall to 0.9183 acre, with 150 feet of width and depth, 25% coverage and yards of 50 feet front, 30 feet side and 50 feet rear.
- A cluster lot on central water and sewage may fall to 0.2296 acre, with 70 feet of width, 100 feet of depth, 35% coverage and yards of 25 feet front, 10 feet side and 15 feet rear.
Residential District - The Residential District asks 40,000 square feet, a 150 foot lot width and depth, 50 feet front, 30 feet to one side with 70 feet for both sides, and 50 feet rear. Building height stops at 35 feet and lot coverage at 25%.
- On central water and central sewage the minimums drop by 50%: 0.4591 acre, 75 feet of width and depth, and yards of 25 feet front, 15 feet one side, 35 feet both sides and 25 feet rear.
- A two family dwelling needs 1.5 times the single family lot minimum, which is 1.3774 acres.
- Converting an existing building to a two family dwelling keeps the single family minimum of 0.9183 acre.
- A multiple dwelling project is a special use, must be served by central water and central sewage, and counts 20,000 square feet of land for each dwelling unit.
- Cluster development is a special use on a contiguous parcel of at least 5 acres served by central water and central sewage.
- A cluster lot may fall to 0.2296 acre, with 70 feet of width, 100 feet of depth, 35% coverage and yards of 25 feet front, 10 feet side and 15 feet rear.
Rural District - The Rural District asks 80,000 square feet, a 200 foot lot width and depth, 50 feet front, 30 feet to one side with 70 feet for both sides, and 50 feet rear. Building height stops at 45 feet and lot coverage at 15%.
- On central water and central sewage the minimums drop by 50%: 0.9183 acre, 100 feet of width and depth, and yards of 25 feet front, 15 feet one side, 35 feet both sides and 25 feet rear.
- The special uses the schedule marks with an asterisk need at least 4 acres.
- A two family dwelling needs twice the single family lot minimum, which is 3.6731 acres, while converting an existing building to one keeps 1.8365 acres.
- Cluster development is a special use on a contiguous parcel of at least 5 acres.
- A cluster lot on on-site water or sewage may fall to 0.9183 acre, with 150 feet of width and depth, 25% coverage and yards of 50 feet front, 30 feet side and 50 feet rear.
- A cluster lot on central water and sewage may fall to 0.2296 acre, with 70 feet of width, 100 feet of depth, 35% coverage and yards of 25 feet front, 10 feet side and 15 feet rear.
Business District - The Business District asks 7,500 square feet, a 50 foot lot width, a 100 foot lot depth, 20 feet front, 10 feet to one side with 20 feet for both sides, and 30 feet rear. Building height stops at 60 feet and lot coverage at 65%.
- The front yard may be reduced to line up with adjacent buildings.
- Residential development follows the Residential District standards: 0.9183 acre, 150 feet of width and depth, and yards of 50 feet front, 30 feet one side, 70 feet both sides and 50 feet rear.
- Residential building height there stops at 35 feet and residential lot coverage at 25%.
- A two family dwelling needs 1.5 times that single family minimum, which is 1.3774 acres.
- A multiple dwelling project is a special use, must be served by central water and central sewage, and counts 5,000 square feet of land for each dwelling unit.
- Cluster development is not available in this district.
Callicoon Business District - The Callicoon Business District asks 2 acres without central water and sewage, a 200 foot lot width and depth, 50 feet front, 25 feet side and 25 feet rear. Building height stops at 40 feet and lot coverage at 65%.
- On central water and central sewage the lot minimum is 0.2296 acre, with 50 feet of width, 100 feet of depth, and yards of 20 feet front, 10 feet one side, 20 feet both sides and 30 feet rear.
- The front yard may be reduced to line up with adjacent buildings.
- On the downtown Callicoon parcels the front yard is zero feet, side yards are 5 feet each and the rear yard is 10 feet, with building coverage at 85% and lot coverage at 100%.
- A two family dwelling needs 1.5 times the single family lot minimum, which is 3 acres without central water and sewage and 0.3444 acre with them.
- A multiple dwelling project is a special use, must be served by central water and central sewage, and counts 7,500 square feet of land for each dwelling unit.
- No building, structure or part of a septic system may stand within 100 feet of the normal high water mark of the Delaware River, and a new lot bordering the river needs 200 feet of frontage along it.
Callicoon Residential District - The Callicoon Residential District takes the Residential District figures: 40,000 square feet, a 150 foot lot width and depth, 50 feet front, 30 feet to one side with 70 feet for both sides, and 50 feet rear. Building height stops at 35 feet and lot coverage at 25%.
- On central water and central sewage the minimums drop by 50%: 0.4591 acre, 75 feet of width and depth, and yards of 25 feet front, 15 feet one side, 35 feet both sides and 25 feet rear.
- A two family dwelling needs 1.5 times the single family lot minimum, which is 1.3774 acres, while converting an existing building to one keeps 0.9183 acre.
- A multiple dwelling project is a special use, must be served by central water and central sewage, and counts 20,000 square feet of land for each dwelling unit.
- Cluster development is a special use on a contiguous parcel of at least 5 acres served by central water and central sewage, and its lots may fall to 0.2296 acre.
- A cluster lot takes 70 feet of width, 100 feet of depth, 35% coverage and yards of 25 feet front, 10 feet side and 15 feet rear.
- No building, structure or part of a septic system may stand within 100 feet of the normal high water mark of the Delaware River, and a new lot bordering the river needs 200 feet of frontage along it.
Planned Unit Development District - The Planned Unit Development District allows 2 dwelling units or equivalent dwelling units per acre. Building height stops at 45 feet and lot coverage at 15%. Every use must be served by central water and central sewage, and every use is a special use.
- The schedule publishes no lot area, width, depth or yard minimum for this district.
- The district tract must cover at least 50 contiguous acres, though a smaller tract may be approved.
- A building site no closer than 300 feet to the property borders may reach 60 feet in height.
- A single family dwelling on on-site water or sewage follows the Residential District standards: 0.9183 acre, 150 feet of width and depth, 35 feet of height and 25% coverage.
- Its yards are then 50 feet front, 30 feet to one side with 70 feet for both sides, and 50 feet rear.
- Cluster development is a special use on at least 5 acres, with lots to 0.2296 acre, 70 feet of width, 100 feet of depth, 35% coverage and yards of 25 feet front, 10 feet side and 15 feet rear.
Short-term rentals
Short-term rentals allowed with local rules. Renting a home short term in the Town of Delaware requires an annual license under the town's short term rental ordinance, Chapter 175, in effect since April 10, 2024. Budget for the license renewal every year.
Conditions the code attaches:
- Health department approval is required for 10 or more occupants.
- Bedroom size limits apply.
- The ordinance caps parking.
- The owner is held responsible for guest disturbances and for trash removal.
- Confirm current license requirements with the building department at (845) 887-5250.
Good to know
- UtilityNYSEG territory.
- Zoning codeTown of Delaware Zoning Code, Chapter 220, 220 Attachment 1: Schedule of District Regulations (footer 01-01-2017)
- Building dept(845) 887-5250
- Last reviewed2026-10-07
Working out a budget? A standard-finish build here runs $195–$256/sq ft , and a conforming lot adds about $9,367 on top - see the full cost to build a house in Delaware, or what an ADU costs here.
Sizing up a specific parcel in Delaware?
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Other Sullivan County towns
All Sullivan County zoning: Bethel · Callicoon · Cochecton · Fallsburg · Forestburgh · Fremont · Highland · Liberty · Lumberland · Mamakating · Neversink · Rockland · Thompson · Tusten · Bloomingburg (Village) · Jeffersonville (Village) · Liberty (Village) · Monticello (Village) · Woodridge (Village)
Zoning figures for Town of Delaware are compiled from the municipal code (last reviewed 2026-10-07) 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) 887-5250 before relying on any number. Source: the Offsite / Aldo zoning dataset.