Town of Bedford, NY: zoning for new construction

Residence Two-Acre District - Meeting the two acre minimum is not enough on its own: the lot must also contain a square 200 ft on a side lying wholly inside its boundaries, and no more than 25% of the required minimum lot area may be land under water or mapped as a wetland.

• A conservation development needs Town Board approval and a parcel with no house on it of at least 10 acres or five times the district minimum, whichever is greater (§ 125-53).
• In a conservation development the yards to interior lot lines are 35 ft front, 15 ft on one side, 35 ft combined and 40 ft rear; the district's own yards apply along the outside boundary.
• Attached houses are allowed only in a conservation development, at 35 ft side and rear to interior lot lines and, on the outside boundary, twice a detached house's yard and never less than 50 feet.
• The number of dwellings may not exceed what a conventional subdivision of the same land would yield, with an absolute ceiling of four dwelling units per acre (§ 125-54D).
• In a subdivision of five or more lots an affordable unit may stand on a lot of 75% of the district minimum, but in this district such a lot must be at least one acre.
• A new lot needs at least 25 ft of frontage, and an access strip serving one must be at least 25 ft wide (§ 125-13B).

Residence Four-Acre District - Meeting the four acre minimum is not enough on its own: the lot must also contain a square 250 ft on a side lying wholly inside its boundaries, and up to half of the required minimum lot area may be land under water or mapped as a wetland.

• A country inn needs a special permit and a single lot of at least 10 acres with frontage on and practical access to a state road (§ 125-85.3).
• A conservation development needs Town Board approval and a parcel with no house on it of at least 10 acres or five times the district minimum, whichever is greater (§ 125-53).
• In a conservation development the yards to interior lot lines are 35 ft front, 15 ft on one side, 35 ft combined and 40 ft rear; the district's own yards apply along the outside boundary.
• Attached houses are allowed only in a conservation development, at 35 ft side and rear to interior lot lines and, on the outside boundary, twice a detached house's yard and never less than 50 feet.
• The number of dwellings may not exceed what a conventional subdivision of the same land would yield, with an absolute ceiling of four dwelling units per acre (§ 125-54D).
• In a subdivision of five or more lots an affordable unit may stand on a lot of 75% of the district minimum, but in this district such a lot must be at least one acre.

Residence One-Half-Acre District - Besides meeting the lot area, the lot must contain a square 100 ft on a side lying wholly inside its boundaries, and no more than 25% of the required minimum lot area may be land under water or mapped as a wetland.

• A conservation development needs Town Board approval and a parcel with no house on it of at least 10 acres or five times the district minimum, whichever is greater (§ 125-53).
• In a conservation development the yards to interior lot lines are 35 ft front, 15 ft on one side, 35 ft combined and 40 ft rear; the district's own yards apply along the outside boundary.
• Attached houses are allowed only in a conservation development, at 35 ft side and rear to interior lot lines and, on the outside boundary, twice a detached house's yard and never less than 50 feet.
• The number of dwellings may not exceed what a conventional subdivision of the same land would yield, with an absolute ceiling of four dwelling units per acre (§ 125-54D).
• In a subdivision of five or more lots an affordable unit may stand on a lot of 75% of the district minimum, and none of that may raise the number of lots the land would otherwise yield.
• A new lot needs at least 25 ft of frontage, and an access strip serving one must be at least 25 ft wide (§ 125-13B).

Residence One-Acre District - Besides meeting the lot area, the lot must contain a square 150 ft on a side lying wholly inside its boundaries, and no more than 25% of the required minimum lot area may be land under water or mapped as a wetland.

• A conservation development needs Town Board approval and a parcel with no house on it of at least 10 acres or five times the district minimum, whichever is greater (§ 125-53).
• In a conservation development the yards to interior lot lines are 35 ft front, 15 ft on one side, 35 ft combined and 40 ft rear; the district's own yards apply along the outside boundary.
• Attached houses are allowed only in a conservation development, at 35 ft side and rear to interior lot lines and, on the outside boundary, twice a detached house's yard and never less than 50 feet.
• The number of dwellings may not exceed what a conventional subdivision of the same land would yield, with an absolute ceiling of four dwelling units per acre (§ 125-54D).
• In a subdivision of five or more lots an affordable unit may stand on a lot of 75% of the district minimum, and none of that may raise the number of lots the land would otherwise yield.
• A new lot needs at least 25 ft of frontage, and an access strip serving one must be at least 25 ft wide (§ 125-13B).

Residence One-Quarter-Acre District - Besides meeting the lot area, the lot must contain a square 75 ft on a side lying wholly inside its boundaries, and no more than 25% of the required minimum lot area may be land under water or mapped as a wetland.

• Attached houses are allowed only in a conservation development, at 35 ft side and rear to interior lot lines and, on the outside boundary, twice a detached house's yard and never less than 50 feet.
• A conservation development of detached houses carries the same front, side and rear yards this district already requires (§ 125-54F(1) and F(3)).
• A conservation development needs Town Board approval and a parcel with no house on it of at least 10 acres or five times the district minimum, whichever is greater (§ 125-53).
• A new lot needs at least 25 ft of frontage, and an access strip serving one must be at least 25 ft wide (§ 125-13B).
• In every residence district the maximum exposed building elevation is 40 ft.
• On a corner lot the yard on the side street must equal the required front yard, and the owner elects which of the remaining yards is the rear (§ 125-18).

Housing for Elderly District - At least 20% of the dwelling units built here must be middle-income units meeting § 125-56 (§ 125-29.3B). The schedule caps height at 2 1/2 stories and prints no limit in feet for this district.

• Besides meeting the lot area, the lot must contain a square 250 ft on a side lying wholly inside its boundaries (§ 125-12B).
• Two buildings must stand at least as far apart as the taller of them is high, and no building may run more than 200 ft along its longest axis.
• A new lot needs at least 25 ft of frontage, and an access strip serving one must be at least 25 ft wide (§ 125-13B).
• In every residence district the maximum exposed building elevation is 40 ft.

Residence Two-Family District - One row of the schedule covers both a one-family and a two-family house: the lot minimum is 10,000 sq ft either way, and each dwelling unit needs 5,000 sq ft of lot area of its own.

• Townhouses and multifamily dwellings are permitted here only where the development is approved as a conservation subdivision under Town Law § 281 or as a conservation development.
• Besides meeting the lot area, the lot must contain a square 75 ft on a side lying wholly inside its boundaries (§ 125-12B).
• No building may run more than 125 ft along its longest axis.
• A new lot needs at least 25 ft of frontage, and an access strip serving one must be at least 25 ft wide (§ 125-13B).
• In every residence district the maximum exposed building elevation is 40 ft.

Diversified Housing District - Side yards are set by the Planning Board at site plan review: at least 10 ft each and 20 ft combined, and the Board may require up to 50 ft each and 100 ft combined.

• Land per dwelling unit goes by unit size against the gross parcel area: 3,500 sq ft for an efficiency and 4,000 sq ft for a one-bedroom.
• Larger units need more: 4,750 sq ft for a two-bedroom, 7,000 sq ft for a three-bedroom and 8,500 sq ft for a four-bedroom.
• At least 20% of the dwelling units built here must be middle-income units meeting § 125-56 (§ 125-29.2B).
• The schedule caps height at 2 1/2 stories and prints no limit in feet for this district.
• The lot must also contain a square 250 ft on a side lying wholly inside its boundaries, and no building may run more than 200 ft along its longest axis.
• A new lot needs at least 25 ft of frontage, and an access strip serving one must be at least 25 ft wide (§ 125-13B).

Residence Village Apartment District - The schedule publishes no minimum lot area here; what it sets instead is 3,500 sq ft of lot area for each dwelling unit. No building may run more than 150 ft along its longest axis.

• A new lot needs at least 25 ft of frontage, and an access strip serving one must be at least 25 ft wide (§ 125-13B).
• In every residence district the maximum exposed building elevation is 40 ft.
• On a corner lot the yard on the side street must equal the required front yard, and the owner elects which of the remaining yards is the rear (§ 125-18).

Central Business District - No single permitted use other than an emergency service provider may occupy more than 4,000 sq ft on the first floor of a building, and the schedule publishes no minimum lot area and no side yard for this district (§ 125-29.7).

• A hotel or motel needs a special permit from the Board of Appeals and a site of at least seven acres with at least 300 ft of frontage on a state or county road (§ 125-72B).
• The two coverage figures are read separately: the first caps buildings and the second caps buildings and parking area together.
• No principal nonresidential use other than an emergency service provider, a medical or veterinary office or a restaurant may operate between 1:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m.
• A buffer screening area at least 10 ft wide, planted with evergreens or replaced by an approved wall or fence, is required along a lot line that abuts or faces a residence district (§ 125-24).
• A new lot needs at least 25 ft of frontage, and an access strip serving one must be at least 25 ft wide (§ 125-13B).

Neighborhood Business District - No single permitted use other than an emergency service provider may occupy more than 4,000 sq ft on the first floor of a building, and the schedule publishes no minimum lot area and no front yard for this district (§ 125-29.7).

• The schedule prints one side yard of 10 ft and no total for both sides combined.
• A hotel or motel needs a special permit from the Board of Appeals and a site of at least seven acres with at least 300 ft of frontage on a state or county road (§ 125-72B).
• The two coverage figures are read separately: the first caps buildings and the second caps buildings and parking area together.
• No principal nonresidential use other than an emergency service provider, a medical or veterinary office or a restaurant may operate between 1:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m.
• A buffer screening area at least 10 ft wide, planted with evergreens or replaced by an approved wall or fence, is required along a lot line that abuts or faces a residence district (§ 125-24).
• A new lot needs at least 25 ft of frontage, and an access strip serving one must be at least 25 ft wide (§ 125-13B).

Planned Business - Office District - Besides meeting the one acre minimum, the lot must contain a square 150 ft on a side lying wholly inside its boundaries. The narrower side yard may be held to 20 ft only where the two yards together reach 45 ft.

• The two coverage figures are read separately: the first caps buildings and the second caps buildings and parking area together.
• A buffer screening area at least 10 ft wide, planted with evergreens or replaced by an approved wall or fence, is required along a lot line that abuts or faces a residence district (§ 125-24).
• A new lot needs at least 25 ft of frontage, and an access strip serving one must be at least 25 ft wide (§ 125-13B).
• On a corner lot the yard on the side street must equal the required front yard, and the owner elects which of the remaining yards is the rear (§ 125-18).

Planned Business - Office District (Katonah) - Besides meeting the lot area, the lot must contain a square 100 ft on a side lying wholly inside its boundaries. The narrower side yard may be held to 20 ft only where the two yards together reach 45 ft.

• A residential structure already standing on a lot of less than 20,000 sq ft may be converted to office or two-family use as long as it is not enlarged and the lot is not reduced (§ 125-85.1C).
• No driveway, parking, loading or storage area with a paved or gravelled surface may be within 25 ft of a residence district boundary (§ 125-85.1D).
• Planting is required where a side or rear yard abuts a residence district boundary, Sunrise Avenue, Orchard Street or Congdon Lane (§ 125-85.1D).
• The two coverage figures are read separately: the first caps buildings and the second caps buildings and parking area together.
• A buffer screening area at least 10 ft wide, planted with evergreens or replaced by an approved wall or fence, is required along a lot line that abuts or faces a residence district (§ 125-24).
• A new lot needs at least 25 ft of frontage, and an access strip serving one must be at least 25 ft wide (§ 125-13B).

Planned Business - Retail District - Besides meeting the one acre minimum, the lot must contain a square 150 ft on a side lying wholly inside its boundaries. The narrower side yard may be held to 20 ft only where the two yards together reach 45 ft.

• The schedule publishes no floor area ratio for this district.
• The two coverage figures are read separately: the first caps buildings and the second caps buildings and parking area together.
• A buffer screening area at least 10 ft wide, planted with evergreens or replaced by an approved wall or fence, is required along a lot line that abuts or faces a residence district (§ 125-24).
• A new lot needs at least 25 ft of frontage, and an access strip serving one must be at least 25 ft wide (§ 125-13B).
• On a corner lot the yard on the side street must equal the required front yard, and the owner elects which of the remaining yards is the rear (§ 125-18).

Residence Multifamily District - Land per dwelling unit is set by unit size rather than by one figure, starting at 3,500 sq ft for an efficiency and 4,000 sq ft for a one-bedroom.

• Larger units need more: 5,500 sq ft for a two-bedroom, 7,000 sq ft for a three-bedroom and 8,500 sq ft for a four-bedroom.
• Besides meeting the two acre minimum, the lot must contain a square 250 ft on a side lying wholly inside its boundaries (§ 125-12B).
• No building may run more than 150 ft along its longest axis.
• A new lot needs at least 25 ft of frontage, and an access strip serving one must be at least 25 ft wide (§ 125-13B).
• In every residence district the maximum exposed building elevation is 40 ft.

Research Office District - The side and rear yards shown are for a one-storey building. They rise to 150 ft for two storeys and 200 ft for three storeys, and to 250 ft where the yard adjoins a residential district.

• Besides meeting the 25 acre minimum, the lot must contain a square 500 ft on a side lying wholly inside its boundaries (§ 125-12B).
• No use may be established unless the Planning Board finds it will not send dust, smoke, visible gas or fumes, odour, vibration, light or noise beyond the site.
• The Board must also find the use will not create a fire, explosion, fume or radiation hazard, discharge harmful waste, disturb electrical equipment beyond the site or cause unusual traffic congestion.
• The two coverage figures are read separately: the first caps buildings and the second caps buildings and parking area together.
• A buffer screening area at least 10 ft wide, planted with evergreens or replaced by an approved wall or fence, is required along a lot line that abuts or faces a residence district (§ 125-24).
• A new lot needs at least 25 ft of frontage, and an access strip serving one must be at least 25 ft wide (§ 125-13B).

Roadside Business District - The schedule publishes no minimum lot area and no side yard for this district, and the two coverage figures are read separately: the first caps buildings, the second buildings and parking area together.

• A buffer screening area at least 10 ft wide, planted with evergreens or replaced by an approved wall or fence, is required along a lot line that abuts or faces a residence district (§ 125-24).
• A new lot needs at least 25 ft of frontage, and an access strip serving one must be at least 25 ft wide (§ 125-13B).
• On a corner lot the yard on the side street must equal the required front yard, and the owner elects which of the remaining yards is the rear (§ 125-18).