Ulster County
Town of Olive, NY: zoning for new construction
Residential lots in the Town of Olive run from a 1-acre minimum in ER ExUrban Residential (R/E-1A) up to 10 acres in CR Conservation Residential (R/C-10A), across 5 zoning districts in all. Short-term rentals allowed with local rules. Power here is Central Hudson territory. The district table below has the setbacks, height limits and coverage - confirm the specifics with the building department at (845) 657-8282 before you rely on a figure.
Looking specifically at an accessory dwelling unit? See ADU rules for Olive →
Zoning districts
| District | Min lot | Setbacks F / S / R | Max height | ADU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CR Conservation Residential (R/C-10A) | 10 ac | 50 / 100 / 100 ft | 35 ft | Occupancy restricted |
| RR Rural Residential (R/R-3A) | 3 ac | 50 / 50 / 75 ft | 35 ft | Occupancy restricted |
| ER ExUrban Residential (R/E-1A) | 1 ac | 50 / 25 / 50 ft | 35 ft | Occupancy restricted |
| B/V-1/2 Business/Village | 0.5 ac | 50 / 20 / 50 ft | 35 ft | Occupancy restricted |
| B/H-1/2 Business/Highway | 0.5 ac | 50 / 20 / 50 ft | 35 ft | No |
CR Conservation Residential (R/C-10A), RR Rural Residential (R/R-3A), ER ExUrban Residential (R/E-1A) - The lot minimum shown is the land required by each dwelling unit, not by the lot as a whole. Every use except a single-family and a two-family home needs Planning Board site plan approval before a zoning permit issues (§ 155-17).
- Where a street right-of-way is under 50 ft, the front yard is measured from its centre line with 25 ft added, and from the centre line of the existing roadway where the right-of-way is unknown.
- In special permit and site plan review the Planning Board may modify any of these standards by up to 10% in the interest of the public welfare.
- An average density or conservation subdivision can modify lot area and dimensions if the average lot meets the district minimum, but only with Planning Board approval (§ 155-8).
B/V-1/2 Business/Village, B/H-1/2 Business/Highway - The half-acre minimum shown is the commercial figure. Residential and certain other uses require larger lot sizes under schedule note 4, which points at § 155-16, and the larger figure is not published there.
- Every use except a single-family and a two-family home needs Planning Board site plan approval before a zoning permit issues (§ 155-17).
- The lot minimum shown is the land required by each dwelling unit, not by the lot as a whole.
- Where a street right-of-way is under 50 ft, the front yard is measured from its centre line with 25 ft added, and from the centre line of the existing roadway where the right-of-way is unknown.
- In special permit and site plan review the Planning Board may modify any of these standards by up to 10% in the interest of the public welfare.
Short-term rentals
Short-term rentals allowed with local rules. A short-term rental needs a permit from the Building Department anywhere in the town. Permits for owner-occupied rentals are uncapped, but permits for rentals the owner does not occupy are capped each January, so one may not be available.
Conditions the code attaches:
- A full-time resident owner, on the premises 184 or more days a year, may rent part of the home, one rental in total.
- A part-time or nonresident owner may rent the principal dwelling unit, one rental in total, for no more than 180 days per calendar year.
- No owner may hold an interest in more than one short-term rental, corporations do not qualify, and properties with three or more units are excluded unless the Town Board grants an exception.
- Accessory dwelling units, accessory apartments, tents, yurts, trailers and RVs cannot be used, though existing ADU permits continue for the current owner only.
- Two guests per bedroom, not counting children 12 and under, and every permit and renewal requires an inspection.
- Operating without a permit is fined $500 a day for a first offence, $1,000 a day for a second and $2,000 a day after that. Confirm availability with the town at (845) 657-8282.
Good to know
- UtilityCentral Hudson territory.
- Zoning codeTown of Olive Code, Chapter 155 (Zoning), § 155-16, Schedule of Residence and Business and Industry District Standards
- Building dept(845) 657-8282
- Last reviewed2026-09-17
Working out a budget? A standard-finish build here runs $206–$270/sq ft , and a conforming lot adds about $11,222 on top - see the full cost to build a house in Olive, or what an ADU costs here.
Sizing up a specific parcel in Olive?
Aldo pulls the exact zoning district, setbacks, and build feasibility for any parcel — before you buy. Enter your email to open Aldo and run your free report.
Other Ulster County towns
All Ulster County zoning: Kingston (City) · Denning · Esopus · Gardiner · Hardenburgh · Hurley · Lloyd · Marbletown · Marlborough · New Paltz · Plattekill · Rochester · Rosendale · Saugerties · Shandaken · Shawangunk · Ulster · Wawarsing · Woodstock
Zoning figures for Town of Olive are compiled from the municipal code (last reviewed 2026-09-17) 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) 657-8282 before relying on any number. Source: the Offsite / Aldo zoning dataset.