ADU · Albany County
Can you build an ADU in New Scotland, NY?
Town of New Scotland has 13 districts. All districts prohibit ADUs. Check your address to confirm the district that applies to your parcel:
What the New Scotland 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial Hamlet | 0.23 ac | 30 / 15 / 30 ft | — | No |
| Commercial | 0.76 ac | 50 / 25 / 25 ft | 35 ft | No |
| Development Area | — | — | — | No |
| Hamlet Center | — | — | — | No |
| Hamlet Expansion | — | — | — | No |
| Industrial | 0.92 ac | 40 / 25 / 30 ft | 35 ft | No |
| Medium Density Residential | 0.51 ac | 40 / 25 / 30 ft | 35 ft | No |
| Mixed Economic Development Distr | 0.23 ac | 10 / 10 / 10 ft | 60 ft | No |
| Residential - 2 Acre | 2 ac | 50 / 25 / 50 ft | 35 ft | No |
| Residential Agricultural | 0.69 ac | 40 / 25 / 30 ft | 35 ft | No |
| Residential Forestry | 3 ac | 50 / 50 / 50 ft | 35 ft | No |
| Residential Hamlet | 0.23 ac | 30 / 15 / 30 ft | 35 ft | No |
| Residential Senior Citizen Distr | — | — | — | No |
ADUs vs. short-term rentals in New Scotland
No local short-term-rental law on record - which is not the same as permission for Town of New Scotland. No local short-term-rental law found as of 2026-08-26; the 2020 codified Zoning Law (Local Law 1 of 2020) was read in full — about 540,000 characters — and contains no short-term-rental, transient-rental or rental-registration provision, and the Town's own Laws and Ordinances index lists no such local law. A BED AND BREAKFAST INN is a permitted use in two districts, defined by transient lodgers in at least three but not more than five bedrooms; a ROOMING HOUSE is separately defined and listed. 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 New Scotland at (518) 439-9153 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 minimum0.23–3 ac — an ADU still has to fit the district's lot and setback envelope.
- UtilityNational Grid territory.
- Building dept(518) 439-9153
- Last reviewed2026-07-08
ADU FAQ — New Scotland, NY
Are ADUs allowed in New Scotland, NY?
Town of New Scotland has 13 districts. All districts prohibit ADUs. Check your address with the free ADU checker, or confirm with the building department at (518) 439-9153.
Do I need a special permit for an ADU in New Scotland?
No. No district in Town of New Scotland permits an ADU, so there is no permit to apply for. Codes change, so verify with the building department at (518) 439-9153 before ruling it out.
Can I use an ADU as a short-term rental in New Scotland?
No local short-term-rental law on record - which is not the same as permission for Town of New Scotland. 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 New Scotland
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 New Scotland, priced by size.
More on New Scotland: Full zoning for new construction · ADU build cost · House build cost · All Albany County towns
ADU information for Town of New Scotland 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) 439-9153 before relying on any answer. Source: Offsite / Aldo zoning dataset, municipalData.js.