ADU · Albany County
Can you build an ADU in Knox, NY?
Town of Knox has 7 districts. All districts prohibit ADUs. Check your address to confirm the district that applies to your parcel:
What the Knox 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agricultural | 3 ac | 75 / 50 / 50 ft | 35 ft | No |
| Ag & Mining | 3 ac | 75 / 50 / 50 ft | 35 ft | No |
| Multi-Use & B1 | — | — | — | No |
| Multi_Use and Agricultural | — | — | — | No |
| Land Conservation 1 | 3 ac | 75 / 50 / 50 ft | 35 ft | No |
| Land Conservation 2 | 3 ac | 75 / 50 / 50 ft | 35 ft | No |
| Residential | 3 ac | 75 / 50 / 50 ft | 35 ft | No |
ADUs vs. short-term rentals in Knox
No local short-term-rental law on record - which is not the same as permission for Town of Knox. No local short-term-rental law found as of 2026-08-26; the Town Zoning Ordinance was read in full and contains no short-term-rental, transient-rental or rental-registration provision. The related uses it defines are a BED AND BREAKFAST — an owner-occupied one-family dwelling with living and sleeping accommodation for transient occupancy sharing a common exterior entrance, providing overnight lodging and breakfast only — and a BOARDING HOUSE, being any dwelling lodging more than four persons for hire, which expressly includes a rooming house or furnished-room house. Both are owner-present or managed lodging uses. Absence of a found STR law is not permission. New York State's 2025 short-term rental registry (Ch. 99 of the Laws of 2025) separately requires every host statewide to register the unit regardless of local law. Confirm with Town of Knox at (518) 872-2551 before listing. 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
- Residential lot minimum3 ac — an ADU still has to fit the district's lot and setback envelope.
- UtilityNational Grid territory.
- Building dept(518) 872-2551
- Last reviewed2026-07-08
ADU FAQ — Knox, NY
Are ADUs allowed in Knox, NY?
Town of Knox has 7 districts. All districts prohibit ADUs. Check your address with the free ADU checker, or confirm with the building department at (518) 872-2551.
Do I need a special permit for an ADU in Knox?
No. No district in Town of Knox permits an ADU, so there is no permit to apply for. Codes change, so verify with the building department at (518) 872-2551 before ruling it out.
Can I use an ADU as a short-term rental in Knox?
No local short-term-rental law on record - which is not the same as permission for Town of Knox. 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 Knox
Permission is one question and budget is another. An 800 sq ft accessory unit here runs roughly $195k–260k 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 Knox, priced by size.
More on Knox: Full zoning for new construction · ADU build cost · House build cost · All Albany County towns
ADU information for Town of Knox is compiled from the municipal code (last reviewed 2026-07-08) 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 (518) 872-2551 before relying on any answer. Source: Offsite / Aldo zoning dataset, municipalData.js.