ADU · Ulster County
Can you build an ADU in Hardenburgh, NY?
Town of Hardenburgh has 1 district. The only district prohibits ADUs. Check your address to confirm the district that applies to your parcel:
What the Hardenburgh code says
The zoning law has no accessory dwelling provision of any kind, and § 2.4.3 treats a use it does not list as prohibited. A second unit inside or attached to the house is a two-family dwelling, which § 3.1 permits by right on a building permit.
Conditions the code attaches:
- Under § 5.1.1 a second, detached residence requires each residence to meet the area and bulk regulations and the subdivision regulations as if it had its own lot.
- The base resource category requires 5 acres of allocation per lot with a 2-acre minimum lot size; a protected stream corridor requires 10 acres per lot and a wetland 15 acres per lot.
- Where resource categories overlap, only the greatest allocation applies (§ 4.2.1.b).
- The law sets no owner-occupancy requirement and no restriction on who may occupy a dwelling unit.
What the Hardenburgh 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Town of Hardenburgh (Town-wide) | 2 ac | 20 / 30 / 50 ft | 35 ft | No |
Town of Hardenburgh (Town-wide) - The 2 acres shown is a floor, not the answer: § 4.2.2(a) requires a lot to meet the minimum in § 4.2.3 for every resource category it lies in, and above elevation 2,500 ft or on land of 15 to 25% slope that minimum is 15 acres.
- No lot coverage limit is stated.
- Accessory buildings may stand in the rear setback, no closer than 6 ft to a property line (§ 5.2.2.3).
- Wetland and buffer may be no more than 25% of the adjacent category's required minimum lot area; land within 250 ft of a protected stream, a flood hazard area or over 25% slope, no more than 50%.
- No principal structure may stand in a wetland resource area.
- On subdivision the Planning Board may waive a minimum lot size to two-thirds of the requirement if the average lot in that category still meets it (§ 4.2.2.b).
- A lot of record at adoption may be split into two lots of at least 2 acres each (§ 4.2.2.c).
ADUs vs. short-term rentals in Hardenburgh
No local short-term-rental law on record - which is not the same as permission for Town of Hardenburgh. The Town of Hardenburgh has no local short-term rental law. That is not a yes, so confirm with the town before counting on renting a home short term. 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
- UtilityCentral Hudson territory.
- Zoning codehardenburghny.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/ZONING1.pdf
- Building dept(845) 586-2970
ADU FAQ — Hardenburgh, NY
Are ADUs allowed in Hardenburgh, NY?
Town of Hardenburgh has 1 district. The only district prohibits ADUs. Check your address with the free ADU checker, or confirm with the building department at (845) 586-2970.
Do I need a special permit for an ADU in Hardenburgh?
No. No district in Town of Hardenburgh permits an ADU, so there is no permit to apply for. Codes change, so verify with the building department at (845) 586-2970 before ruling it out.
Can I use an ADU as a short-term rental in Hardenburgh?
No local short-term-rental law on record - which is not the same as permission for Town of Hardenburgh. 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 Hardenburgh
Permission is one question and budget is another. An 800 sq ft accessory unit here runs roughly $200k–265k 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 Hardenburgh, priced by size.
How we know this
- Districts confirmed
- 1 of 1 — 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 Hardenburgh: Full zoning for new construction · ADU build cost · House build cost · ADU rules across Ulster County · All Ulster County towns
ADU information for Town of Hardenburgh is compiled from the municipal code (last reviewed 2026-08-16) 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 (845) 586-2970 before relying on any answer. Source: the Offsite / Aldo zoning dataset.