ADU · Albany County
Can you build an ADU in Menands, NY?
Village of Menands has 15 districts. 8 districts prohibit ADUs, 7 require a special-use permit. Check your address to confirm the district that applies to your parcel:
What the Menands 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business | 0.2296 ac | 10 / 10 / 15 ft | 40 ft | No |
| Broadway Business District | — | — | — | No |
| Cemetary | 10 ac | 50 / 50 / 50 ft | 35 ft | No |
| Heavy Industrial | 0.4591 ac | 20 / 10 / 15 ft | 70 ft | No |
| Land Conservation | 5 ac | — | 35 ft | No |
| Light Industrial | 0.3444 ac | 20 / 10 / 15 ft | 70 ft | No |
| Open Space Residential | 1.3774 ac | 40 / 20 / 25 ft | 35 ft | Special permit |
| Single-Family Residential | 0.1837 ac | 20 / 10 / 20 ft | 35 ft | Special permit |
| Two-Family Residential | 0.1377 ac | 20 / 10 / 20 ft | 35 ft | Special permit |
| Rural Residential | 0.4591 ac | 40 / 20 / 25 ft | 35 ft | Special permit |
| Townhouse Residential | 0.5 ac | 30 / 15 / 40 ft | 35 ft | Special permit |
| High Density Residential | 0.1377 ac | 20 / 20 / 10 ft | 35 ft | Special permit |
| Multi-Family Residential | 1 ac | 60 / 30 / 30 ft | 45 ft | Special permit |
| Infill Neighborhood District | — | — | — | No |
| Infill Mixed Use District | — | — | — | No |
ADUs vs. short-term rentals in Menands
No local short-term-rental law on record - which is not the same as permission for Village of Menands. No local STR ordinance found as of Jun 2026. Hosts are subject to the 2025 NYS statewide STR registry law only. 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 minimum0.1377–1.3774 ac — an ADU still has to fit the district's lot and setback envelope.
- UtilityNational Grid territory.
- Building dept(518) 434-2922
- Last reviewed2026-07-08
ADU FAQ — Menands, NY
Are ADUs allowed in Menands, NY?
Village of Menands has 15 districts. 8 districts prohibit ADUs, 7 require a special-use permit. Check your address with the free ADU checker, or confirm with the building department at (518) 434-2922.
Do I need a special permit for an ADU in Menands?
It depends on the district: 7 of 15 require a special-use permit, the rest do not. Check the district that applies to your parcel before you design.
Can I use an ADU as a short-term rental in Menands?
No local short-term-rental law on record - which is not the same as permission for Village of Menands. 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 Menands
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 Menands, priced by size.
More on Menands: Full zoning for new construction · ADU build cost · House build cost · All Albany County towns
ADU information for Village of Menands 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) 434-2922 before relying on any answer. Source: Offsite / Aldo zoning dataset, municipalData.js.