Albany County
City of Watervliet, NY: zoning for new construction
Residential lots in the City of Watervliet run from a 0.092-acre minimum in Residential 1 up to 0.23 acres in Residential 1A, across 10 zoning districts in all. Short-term rentals allowed with local rules. Power here is National Grid territory. The district table below has the setbacks, height limits and coverage - confirm the specifics with the building department at (518) 270-3800 before you rely on a figure.
Looking specifically at an accessory dwelling unit? See ADU rules for Watervliet →
Zoning districts
| District | Min lot | Setbacks F / S / R | Max height | ADU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business | — | 0 / 0 / 20 ft | 40 ft | No |
| Light Industrial | — | 25 / 10 / 25 ft | 50 ft | No |
| Mixed Use 1 | 0.092 ac | 10 / 3 / 15 ft | 40 ft | No |
| Mixed Use 2 | 0.092 ac | 10 / 3 / 15 ft | 40 ft | No |
| Planned Mixed Use District | — | — | — | — |
| Residential 1 | 0.092 ac | 10 / 3 / 15 ft | 35 ft | No |
| Residential 1A | 0.23 ac | 25 / 10 / 30 ft | 35 ft | No |
| Residential 2 | 0.092 ac | 10 / 3 / 15 ft | 35 ft | No |
| Residential 3 | 0.115 ac | 10 / 5 / 15 ft | 45 ft | No |
| Waterfront Conservation | 0.459 ac | 25 / 10 / 30 ft | 35 ft | No |
Short-term rentals
Short-term rentals allowed with local rules. Local Law No. 3-2025, codified at Chapter 176, Article V (effective Sep 4, 2025), requires registry filing with Code Enforcement before operating any STR. Annual fees: $250/building + $100/unit.
Good to know
- UtilityNational Grid territory.
- Building dept(518) 270-3800
- Last reviewed2026-07-08
Working out a budget? A standard-finish build here runs $202–$265/sq ft - see the full cost to build a house in Watervliet, or what an ADU costs here.
Sizing up a specific parcel in Watervliet?
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 Albany County towns
All Albany County zoning: Albany (City) · Cohoes (City) · Berne · Bethlehem · Coeymans · Colonie · Guilderland · Knox · New Scotland · Rensselaerville · Westerlo · Altamont (Village) · Colonie (Village) · Green Island (Village) · Menands (Village) · Ravena (Village) · Voorheesville (Village)
Zoning figures for City of Watervliet are compiled from the municipal code (last reviewed 2026-07-08) 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 (518) 270-3800 before relying on any number. Source: Offsite / Aldo zoning dataset, municipalData.js.