ADU · Ulster County

Can you build an ADU in Marbletown, NY?

Town of Marbletown has 11 districts. 6 districts allow ADUs with occupancy restrictions, 3 require a special-use permit, 2 do not. Check your address to confirm the district that applies to your parcel:

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What the Marbletown code says

An accessory dwelling unit, attached or detached, is allowed on a building permit in the A2, A3, A4, R1, R3 and SR districts. The owner of the lot has to live in either that unit or the main house.

Conditions the code attaches:

In the two business districts it needs a Planning Board special use permit, and it is prohibited in the two industrial districts.
One unit per lot is allowed by right, at least 200 sq ft and no larger than 1,000 sq ft or the size of the primary dwelling, whichever is less.
Renting either the primary dwelling or the accessory unit short term is prohibited under § 200-52.C(2)(m), except on a permit issued before Local Law No. 4 of 2019.
The minimum lot area per dwelling unit does not apply, and an accessory unit may go on a lot nonconforming only for being undersized, if the height, bulk and coverage nonconformity is not increased.
A detached unit is capped at the lesser of 25 ft or the height of the primary dwelling, must sit at least 6 ft behind it, and cannot be within 100 ft of DEC or ACOE wetlands.
A second accessory unit needs expedited site plan approval, and only where one of the two units is deeded affordable to an income-eligible household for at least 15 years.

What the Marbletown 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
Agricultural-4 (A-4)	4 ac	40 / 30 / 30 ft	35 ft	Occupancy restricted
Agricultural-3 (A-3)	3 ac	40 / 30 / 30 ft	35 ft	Occupancy restricted
Agricultural-2 (A-2)	3 ac	40 / 30 / 30 ft	35 ft	Occupancy restricted
Residential-1 (R-1)	3 ac	40 / 30 / 30 ft	35 ft	Occupancy restricted
Residential-3 (R-3)	1 ac	40 / 30 / 30 ft	35 ft	Occupancy restricted
Scenic Resources (SR)	1 ac	40 / 30 / 30 ft	35 ft	Occupancy restricted
Business-1 Enhanced (B-1/E)	1 ac	20 / 12 / 30 ft	—	Special permit
Business-1 Node (B-1/N)	1 ac	40 / 30 / 50 ft	—	Special permit
Business-2 (B-2)	1 ac	40 / 30 / 30 ft	35 ft	Special permit
Industrial-1 (I-1)	—	40 / 30 / 30 ft	25 ft	No
Industrial/Business (I/B)	1 ac	40 / 30 / 30 ft	—	No

Agricultural-4 (A-4), Agricultural-3 (A-3), Agricultural-2 (A-2) - A nonresidential use takes the schedule's nonresidential columns instead of the figures shown: a minimum lot area of 40,000 sq ft and a minimum lot width of 125 ft.

The minimum lot area shown is the land required for each dwelling unit, not for the lot as a whole.
The front yard is measured from the edge of the public right-of-way, or, where that right-of-way is under 50 ft wide, from a line 25 ft from and parallel to its centre line.
On a private right-of-way, private road or shared driveway the front yard is measured from a line 10 ft from the centre line.

Residential-1 (R-1), Scenic Resources (SR) - A nonresidential use takes the schedule's nonresidential columns instead of the figures shown, where the minimum lot area is 40,000 sq ft.

The minimum lot area shown is the land required for each dwelling unit, not for the lot as a whole.
The front yard is measured from the edge of the public right-of-way, or, where that right-of-way is under 50 ft wide, from a line 25 ft from and parallel to its centre line.
On a private right-of-way, private road or shared driveway the front yard is measured from a line 10 ft from the centre line.

Residential-3 (R-3) - In a subdivision of four or more lots served by and connected to a community water system, the minimum drops to 0.75 acre per dwelling unit. It is not available to a single lot.

The community water system must be approved by the Ulster County Health Department, except as modified by § 200-48.
A nonresidential use takes the schedule's nonresidential columns, with a minimum lot area of 15,000 sq ft and a minimum lot width of 110 ft.
The minimum lot area shown is the land required for each dwelling unit, not for the lot as a whole.
The front yard is measured from the edge of the public right-of-way, or, where that right-of-way is under 50 ft wide, from a line 25 ft from and parallel to its centre line.
On a private right-of-way, private road or shared driveway the front yard is measured from a line 10 ft from the centre line.

Business-1 Enhanced (B-1/E) - A nonresidential use takes the schedule's nonresidential columns, with a minimum lot area of 10,000 sq ft and a minimum lot width of 75 ft. Maximum height is 3 1/2 stories, and the schedule states no figure in feet.

The minimum lot area shown is the land required for each dwelling unit, not for the lot as a whole.
The front yard is measured from the edge of the public right-of-way, or, where that right-of-way is under 50 ft wide, from a line 25 ft from and parallel to its centre line.
On a private right-of-way, private road or shared driveway the front yard is measured from a line 10 ft from the centre line.

Business-1 Node (B-1/N) - A nonresidential use needs a minimum lot area of 40,000 sq ft and a minimum lot width of 200 ft, against the 125 ft shown. Maximum height is 2 1/2 stories, and the schedule states no figure in feet.

The minimum lot area shown is the land required for each dwelling unit, not for the lot as a whole.
The front yard is measured from the edge of the public right-of-way, or, where that right-of-way is under 50 ft wide, from a line 25 ft from and parallel to its centre line.
On a private right-of-way, private road or shared driveway the front yard is measured from a line 10 ft from the centre line.

Business-2 (B-2) - The figures shown are the residential row. A nonresidential use takes a 40,000 sq ft lot, a 200 ft width, a 50 ft front yard, a 50 ft rear yard, 20% coverage and a 2 1/2 story height limit with no figure in feet.

The minimum lot area shown is the land required for each dwelling unit, not for the lot as a whole.
The front yard is measured from the edge of the public right-of-way, or, where that right-of-way is under 50 ft wide, from a line 25 ft from and parallel to its centre line.
On a private right-of-way, private road or shared driveway the front yard is measured from a line 10 ft from the centre line.

Industrial-1 (I-1) - Residential use is not permitted in I1, and the figures shown are the nonresidential standard, including a 40,000 sq ft minimum lot area.

An I1 district can be established in an A district only by an amendment to the Zoning Map under § 200-40.
The front yard is measured from the edge of a public right-of-way, or, where that right-of-way is under 50 ft wide, from a line 25 ft from and parallel to its centre line.
On a private right-of-way, private road or shared driveway, the front yard is measured from a line 10 ft from the centre line.

Industrial/Business (I/B) - A nonresidential use takes the schedule's nonresidential columns, with a minimum lot area of 40,000 sq ft and a minimum lot width of 100 ft. Maximum height is 3 1/2 stories, and the schedule states no figure in feet.

The minimum lot area shown is the land required for each dwelling unit, not for the lot as a whole.
The front yard is measured from the edge of the public right-of-way, or, where that right-of-way is under 50 ft wide, from a line 25 ft from and parallel to its centre line.
On a private right-of-way, private road or shared driveway the front yard is measured from a line 10 ft from the centre line.

ADUs vs. short-term rentals in Marbletown

Short-term rentals allowed with registration for Town of Marbletown. Renting a home short term in Marbletown requires a town permit. The town has adopted short-term rental regulations that govern the use. 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. Municipal source

Good to know

Residential lot minimum1–4 ac — an ADU still has to fit the district's lot and setback envelope.
Energy codeNew York stretch energy code adopted (2022) — applies to new ADU construction.
UtilityCentral Hudson territory.
Zoning codeecode360.com/MA1321
Building dept(845) 687-7500

ADU FAQ — Marbletown, NY

Are ADUs allowed in Marbletown, NY?

Town of Marbletown has 11 districts. 6 districts allow ADUs with occupancy restrictions, 3 require a special-use permit, 2 do not. Check your address with the free ADU checker, or confirm with the building department at (845) 687-7500.

Do I need a special permit for an ADU in Marbletown?

It depends on the district: 3 of 11 require a special-use permit, the rest do not. Check the district that applies to your parcel before you design.

Can I use an ADU as a short-term rental in Marbletown?

Short-term rentals allowed with registration for Town of Marbletown. 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.

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What an ADU costs to build in Marbletown

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 Marbletown, priced by size.

How we know this

Sections analyzed: § 200-8 Schedule of Use Regulations; § 200-52.B and C (L.L. No. 1 of 2025)
Districts confirmed: 11 of 11 — every mapped district.
Last reviewed: 2026-08-16
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 Marbletown: 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 Marbletown 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) 687-7500 before relying on any answer. Source: the Offsite / Aldo zoning dataset.