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ADU · Westchester County

Can you build an ADU in Ossining, NY?

Town of Ossining has 17 districts. 9 districts allow ADUs with occupancy restrictions, 4 do not. 4 districts have incomplete data - verify with the building department at (914) 762-8419. Check your address to confirm the district that applies to your parcel:

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What the Ossining code says

An accessory apartment on a single-family lot needs a Zoning Board of Appeals special permit, and the owner must live in the house or the apartment as a primary residence (§ 200-31.2). It is available in R-40, R-30, R-20, R-20A, R-15, R-10, R-7.5, R-5 and MF.

Conditions the code attaches:

What the Ossining 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
One-Family Residence 0.69 ac 35 / 18 / 36 ft 35 ft Occupancy restricted
One-Family Residence 0.92 ac 40 / 20 / 38 ft 35 ft Occupancy restricted
One-Family Residence 0.23 ac 25 / 12 / 30 ft 35 ft Occupancy restricted
One-Family Residence 0.34 ac 30 / 14 / 32 ft 35 ft Occupancy restricted
One-Family Residence 0.46 ac 30 / 16 / 34 ft 35 ft Occupancy restricted
One-Family Residence 0.46 ac 30 / 16 / 34 ft 35 ft Occupancy restricted
One-Family Residence 0.11 ac 25 / 8 / 26 ft 35 ft Occupancy restricted
One-Family Residence 0.17 ac 25 / 10 / 28 ft 35 ft Occupancy restricted
One-Family Residence — — — —
Multifamily 0.46 ac 25 / 50 / 40 ft 35 ft Occupancy restricted
Office-Research Manufacturing 10 ac 100 / 100 / 100 ft 35 ft —
General Business 0.46 ac 30 / 0 / 0 ft 35 ft No
General Business-1 0.23 ac 30 / 0 / 0 ft 35 ft No
Neighborhood Commercial 0.11 ac 30 / 0 / 0 ft 35 ft No
Business Education 40 ac 100 / 100 / 100 ft 35 ft No
Multifamily-Inn 0.46 ac 50 / 50 / 40 ft 35 ft —
Office-Research Education 10 ac 100 / 100 / 100 ft 35 ft —

One-Family Residence, One-Family Residence, One-Family Residence, One-Family Residence, One-Family Residence - The maximum floor area of a one-family residence is 5,000 sq ft plus 0.052521 of the lot area above 43,560 sq ft, § 200-21C. Impervious surface is capped separately, on a sliding scale that grows with lot area.

  • Lots may also be laid out as a cluster development, which for detached houses follows the R-5 standards and needs Planning Board subdivision and site plan approval.
  • On a street with a right-of-way narrower than 50 feet the front yard is measured from the street center line, with 25 feet added.
  • A lot held separately in ownership when the chapter took effect may be built on for a one-family residence without meeting the lot area, lot width and side yard minimums.
  • A residential density bonus of 20% on 10 acres or more, 30% above 5 acres and 40% on 5 acres or less is granted where half the bonus units are below market rate.
  • An accessory building up to 15 feet high may stand in a required side or rear yard if it is set back 10 feet from every lot line and all such buildings cover no more than 30% of that required yard.
  • Creating more than 100 sq ft of impervious surface needs a permit from the Building Inspector.

One-Family Residence, One-Family Residence - The maximum floor area of a one-family residence is 5,000 sq ft plus 0.052521 of the lot area above 43,560 sq ft, § 200-21C. Impervious surface is capped separately, on a sliding scale that grows with lot area.

  • Converting an existing residential structure to a two-family dwelling needs a special permit from the Board of Appeals, a lot of at least 10,000 sq ft and 750 sq ft of living floor area in each unit.
  • Lots may also be laid out as a cluster development, which for detached houses follows the R-5 standards and needs Planning Board subdivision and site plan approval.
  • On a street with a right-of-way narrower than 50 feet the front yard is measured from the street center line, with 25 feet added.
  • A lot held separately in ownership when the chapter took effect may be built on for a one-family residence without meeting the lot area, lot width and side yard minimums.
  • A residential density bonus of 20% on 10 acres or more, 30% above 5 acres and 40% on 5 acres or less is granted where half the bonus units are below market rate.
  • An accessory building up to 15 feet high may stand in a required side or rear yard if it is set back 10 feet from every lot line and all such buildings cover no more than 30% of that required yard.

One-Family Residence - The maximum floor area of a one-family residence is 5,000 sq ft plus 0.052521 of the lot area above 43,560 sq ft, § 200-21C. Impervious surface is capped separately, on a sliding scale that grows with lot area.

  • Converting an existing residential structure to a two-family dwelling needs a special permit from the Board of Appeals, a lot of at least 10,000 sq ft and 750 sq ft of living floor area in each unit.
  • On a street with a right-of-way narrower than 50 feet the front yard is measured from the street center line, with 25 feet added.
  • A lot held separately in ownership when the chapter took effect may be built on for a one-family residence without meeting the lot area, lot width and side yard minimums.
  • A residential density bonus of 20% on 10 acres or more, 30% above 5 acres and 40% on 5 acres or less is granted where half the bonus units are below market rate.
  • An accessory building up to 15 feet high may stand in a required side or rear yard if it is set back 10 feet from every lot line and all such buildings cover no more than 30% of that required yard.
  • Creating more than 100 sq ft of impervious surface needs a permit from the Building Inspector.

One-Family Residence - The code sets no lot, width, depth, yard, height or coverage standard under the R-80 name. The Building Department can say which current district a parcel here carries.

Multifamily - The figures shown are for row and attached dwellings, which need at least 4,000 sq ft of lot per unit plus 1,500 sq ft per bedroom. A multiple dwelling needs a front yard of at least 50 ft on a lot at least 100 ft wide and 150 ft deep.

  • The 50 ft one-side and 100 ft combined side yards apply only between buildings and side lot lines.
  • Livable floor area per unit is 450 sq ft for a studio or efficiency, 675 for one bedroom, 750 for two, 1,000 for three and 1,200 for four.
  • At least 1/3 of the net site area must be permanent open space or recreation, with 1,500 sq ft of undeveloped open space per bedroom and a 400 sq ft play area for each dwelling unit.
  • No building may exceed 150 feet in length, principal buildings must stand twice the height of the taller apart, and a principal and an accessory building 20 feet apart.
  • A group of row dwellings may hold no more than six units.
  • A residential density bonus of 20% on 10 acres or more, 30% above 5 acres and 40% on 5 acres or less is granted where half the bonus units are below market rate.

Office-Research Manufacturing - The district list in the code names no Office-Research Manufacturing district, and the figures shown are the ones § 200-24 publishes for the Office-Research Business district. Every use is subject to site plan approval.

  • Side and rear yards are 200 feet on a lot along a residence district boundary, including one in another municipality.
  • A parcel of 10 acres or more may be subdivided, and each principal building then needs a lot of at least two acres, with side and rear yards of 50 feet.
  • Each lot in such a subdivision needs 200 feet of street frontage, which the Planning Board may reduce to 100 feet on a cul-de-sac or a curve.
  • Parking and loading must stand at least 200 feet from a residence district boundary and 100 feet from any other lot line.
  • In a parking lot of an acre or more at least 5% of the lot must be interior landscaping.
  • Buildings must stand at least as far apart as the taller one is high and never less than 30 feet.

General Business - Multiple dwellings and row or attached dwellings are allowed on a lot of at least 20,000 sq ft under the multifamily standards of § 200-22. No side or rear yard is required here, but each is at least 30 feet on a lot along a residence district boundary.

  • A multiple dwelling needs a front yard of at least 50 feet, a lot at least 100 feet wide and 150 feet deep, side yards of at least 50 feet and 100 feet combined, with coverage capped at 20%.
  • A row or attached dwelling needs a front yard of at least 25 feet, side yards of at least 50 feet and 100 feet combined and a rear yard of at least 40 feet, with coverage capped at 20%.
  • For those dwellings the Planning Board may modify the lot width, lot depth, yard, usable open space and building coverage requirements of § 200-22.
  • Dwelling unit sizes are 450 sq ft for a studio or efficiency, 675 for one bedroom, 750 for two, 1,000 for three and 1,200 for four, and no dwelling unit may be in a basement or cellar.
  • A residential density bonus of 20% on 10 acres or more, 30% above 5 acres, 40% above 2 acres and 100% below 2 acres is granted where half the bonus units are below market rate.
  • No side or rear yard is required where that yard abuts an operating railroad right-of-way.

General Business-1 - The Planning Board may increase the required front, side and rear setbacks by up to a factor of two, or reduce or eliminate them, on site plan review. No side or rear yard is required, but each is at least 30 feet on a lot along a residence district boundary.

  • That change rests on the Planning Board's findings about topography, slopes, grades, sight distances and highway conditions, and a finding of no adverse impact on abutting properties.
  • Every use in the district is subject to site plan approval.
  • There is no outdoor storage of any kind and no outdoor parking of construction equipment.
  • No side or rear yard is required where that yard abuts an operating railroad right-of-way.
  • Where § 200-18.1 conflicts with another section of the chapter, § 200-18.1 controls.

Neighborhood Commercial - Aggregate floor area on any lot is capped at 12,000 sq ft, and on a lot along a residence district boundary the side and rear yards must each be at least 30 ft.

  • A one-family dwelling is regulated as in the R-5 district and a two-family dwelling by the R-10 figures.
  • Multiple and row or attached dwellings need a lot of at least 15,000 sq ft with 5,000 sq ft of lot area per unit, and no group of row dwellings may hold more than six units.
  • A mixed use needs a lot of at least 20,000 sq ft, one dwelling unit per 10,000 sq ft of lot area and no more than 4,800 sq ft of nonresidential floor area per acre.
  • Artist live and work spaces are allowed at one per 5,000 sq ft of lot area, each at least 800 sq ft with no more than 30% of its floor area residential.
  • A buffer at least 20 feet wide with native landscape screening is required between a nonresidential use and a residentially used or zoned lot.
  • Principal buildings must stand twice the height of the taller apart, and a principal and an accessory building 20 feet apart.

Business Education - On a lot along a residence district boundary, in this town or another municipality, the side and rear yards must each be at least 150 ft.

  • The subdivision option that reaches the Office-Research Business and Office-Research Education districts does not reach this one, so the 40 acre minimum is not reduced.
  • The height may rise to 50 feet where a substantial part of the added height houses ventilators, water tanks, bulkheads and similar rooftop features in harmony with the building.
  • Other rooftop features may rise above the limit if they cover no more than 20% of the roof and stand no more than 15 feet above it.
  • Parking and loading must stand at least 100 feet from a residence district boundary and 30 feet from any other lot line.
  • In a parking lot of an acre or more at least 5% of the lot must be interior landscaping.
  • The amount of off-street parking and loading is set by the Planning Board on site plan approval.

Multifamily-Inn - Lot area per dwelling unit is 4,000 sq ft plus 1,500 sq ft for each bedroom, on a lot of at least 20,000 sq ft. The 50 foot single and 100 foot combined side yards apply only between buildings and side lot lines.

  • A row or attached dwelling needs 20 feet of lot width, 100 feet of lot depth and a 25 foot front yard.
  • Every use the R-40 district permits is also permitted here and regulated as in R-40, so a one-family house needs a 150 foot lot width, a 40 foot front yard and 20 foot side yards.
  • An inn or a bed-and-breakfast establishment, with accessory shops, eating and drinking establishments, recreation facilities and spas, is a conditional use needing Planning Board approval.
  • A bed-and-breakfast establishment may hold no more than eight guest bedrooms and needs a lot of at least 20,000 sq ft for two guest bedrooms, 30,000 for three and 40,000 for four.
  • It must be owner occupied, must look like a one-family dwelling from outside, and no guest may stay longer than two weeks.
  • At least 1/3 of the net site area must be permanent open space or recreation, with 1,500 sq ft of undeveloped open space per bedroom and a 400 sq ft play area for each dwelling unit.

Office-Research Education - One-family dwellings and every use the R-20 district permits are allowed here, and the code states no separate lot, yard or coverage standard for them. Side and rear yards are 200 feet on a lot along a residence district boundary in any municipality.

  • A parcel of 10 acres or more may be subdivided, and each principal building then needs a lot of at least two acres, with side and rear yards of 50 feet.
  • Each lot in such a subdivision needs 200 feet of street frontage, which the Planning Board may reduce to 100 feet on a cul-de-sac or a curve.
  • Parking and loading must stand at least 100 feet from a residence district boundary and 30 feet from any other lot line, and the amount of parking is set by the Planning Board on site plan approval.
  • In a parking lot of an acre or more at least 5% of the lot must be interior landscaping.
  • Buildings must stand at least as far apart as the taller one is high and never less than 30 feet.
  • Rooftop ventilators, water tanks, bulkheads and chimneys may rise above the height limit if they cover no more than 20% of the roof and stand no more than 15 feet above it.

ADUs vs. short-term rentals in Ossining

No local short-term-rental law on record - which is not the same as permission for Town of Ossining. The Town of Ossining has no local short-term rental law, and that is not the same as permission. Confirm with the building department before counting on 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.

Good to know

ADU FAQ — Ossining, NY

Are ADUs allowed in Ossining, NY?

Town of Ossining has 17 districts. 9 districts allow ADUs with occupancy restrictions, 4 do not. 4 districts have incomplete data - verify with the building department at (914) 762-8419. Check your address with the free ADU checker.

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

No district in Town of Ossining requires a special-use permit for an ADU - 9 districts allow ADUs with occupancy restrictions, 4 do not. Site-plan review or a building permit may still apply.

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

No local short-term-rental law on record - which is not the same as permission for Town of Ossining. 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 Ossining

Permission is one question and budget is another. An 800 sq ft accessory unit here runs roughly $235k–310k 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 Ossining, priced by size.

How we know this

Zoning code
ecode360.com/OS0797
Districts confirmed
13 of 17 — 4 not yet analyzed, so this page does not answer for them.
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.

ADU information for Town of Ossining is compiled from the municipal code (last reviewed 2026-09-26) 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 (914) 762-8419 before relying on any answer. Source: the Offsite / Aldo zoning dataset.

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