Ulster County
Town of Rosendale, NY: zoning for new construction
Residential lots in the Town of Rosendale run from a 0.17-acre minimum in R-3 Residence up to 1.5 acres in A-1 Trailer, across 9 zoning districts in all. Short-term rentals allowed with registration. 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) 658-3159 before you rely on a figure.
Looking specifically at an accessory dwelling unit? See ADU rules for Rosendale →
Zoning districts
| District | Min lot | Setbacks F / S / R | Max height | ADU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Residence | 1.5 ac | 50 / 30 / 50 ft | 35 ft | Occupancy restricted |
| A-1 Trailer | 1.5 ac | 50 / 30 / 50 ft | 35 ft | Occupancy restricted |
| R-1 Residence | 1 ac | 35 / 20 / 35 ft | 35 ft | Occupancy restricted |
| R-2 Residence | 1 ac | 35 / 20 / 35 ft | 35 ft | Occupancy restricted |
| R-2a Residence | 1 ac | 35 / 20 / 35 ft | 35 ft | Occupancy restricted |
| R-3 Residence | 0.17 ac | 25 / 10 / 25 ft | 35 ft | Occupancy restricted |
| B-1 General Business | 0.23 ac | 35 / 12.5 / 35 ft | 30 ft | Occupancy restricted |
| B-2 Business | 0.23 ac | 40 / 25 / 40 ft | 40 ft | Occupancy restricted |
| I-1 Light Industrial | 0.46 ac | 50 / 25 / 50 ft | 40 ft | No |
A Residence, A-1 Trailer - The minimums here do not vary with utility service.
- Minimum lot dimensions are also governed by the supplementary regulations at §§ 75-12 through 75-17.
R-1 Residence - The minimum lot drops to 0.75 acre with community sewer or water, and to 0.5 acre with both.
- §§ 75-12 through 75-17 hold further regulations on minimum lot dimensions.
R-2 Residence, R-2a Residence - The minimum lot drops to 0.75 acre with community sewer or water, and to 12,500 sq ft with both, where the width falls to 80 ft and the side yard to 12.5 ft.
- §§ 75-12 through 75-17 hold further regulations on minimum lot dimensions.
R-3 Residence - The minimums shown apply only to a lot with community sewer or community water. The schedule sets no standard for a lot with neither.
- Density for a multifamily or two-family building is calculated under § 75-28.D(5) rather than from the schedule.
- Lot area for a mixed-use lot or building is set under § 75-15.
- Minimum lot dimensions are also governed by the supplementary regulations at §§ 75-12 through 75-17.
B-1 General Business - A one- or two-family dwelling takes the R-2 District's lot and yard dimensions: at least 1 acre, 0.75 acre with community sewer or water, and 12,500 sq ft with both. On Main Street in the Hamlet of Rosendale the R-3 District's standards apply instead.
- The district has a second row for Main Street in the Hamlet of Rosendale: 5,000 sq ft of lot, 50 ft width, no front and no side yard, a 20 ft rear yard, 40 ft height and 50% coverage.
- Multifamily and two-family density is calculated under § 75-28.D(5) rather than from the schedule.
- Lot area for a mixed-use lot or building is set under § 75-15.
- §§ 75-12 through 75-17 hold further regulations on minimum lot dimensions.
- The R-2 dimensions for a dwelling run a 100 ft width, 35 ft front and rear yards, 20 ft sides and 30% coverage; with both services the width is 80 ft and the side yard 12.5 ft.
B-2 Business - A one- or two-family dwelling takes the R-2 District's lot and yard dimensions: at least 1 acre, 0.75 acre with community sewer or water, and 12,500 sq ft with both, where the width falls to 80 ft and the side yard to 12.5 ft.
- Multifamily and two-family density is calculated under § 75-28.D(5) rather than from the schedule.
- Lot area for a mixed-use lot or building is set under § 75-15.
- §§ 75-12 through 75-17 hold further regulations on minimum lot dimensions.
- The R-2 dimensions for a dwelling run a 100 ft width, 35 ft front and rear yards, 20 ft sides and 30% coverage.
I-1 Light Industrial - No residential density is published for this district: the schedule prints not permitted in the area per dwelling unit column.
- Minimum lot dimensions are also governed by the supplementary regulations at §§ 75-12 through 75-17.
Short-term rentals
Short-term rentals allowed with registration. A short-term transient rental permit is required under Local Law No. 5 of 2024. On receipt of a permit the rental is permitted as an accessory use in the A, A-1, B-1, B-2, R-1, R-2, R-2a and R-3 districts.
Conditions the code attaches:
- Contact Town of Rosendale at (845) 658-3159 for the current fee and application.
Good to know
- UtilityCentral Hudson territory.
- Zoning codeTown of Rosendale, Town Code, Chapter 75 (Zoning), § 75-11, Density Control Schedule (75 Attachment 2)
- Building dept(845) 658-3159
- Last reviewedApr 2026
Working out a budget? A standard-finish build here runs $206–$270/sq ft , and a conforming lot adds about $1,757 on top - see the full cost to build a house in Rosendale, or what an ADU costs here.
Sizing up a specific parcel in Rosendale?
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 · Olive · Plattekill · Rochester · Saugerties · Shandaken · Shawangunk · Ulster · Wawarsing · Woodstock
Zoning figures for Town of Rosendale are compiled from the municipal code (last reviewed Apr 2026) 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) 658-3159 before relying on any number. Source: the Offsite / Aldo zoning dataset.