Columbia County
Town of Chatham, NY: zoning for new construction
Residential lots in the Town of Chatham run from a 1.5-acre minimum in Hamlet One up to 10 acres in Rural Lands One, across 7 zoning districts in all. Short-term rentals allowed with local rules. Power here is NYSEG territory. The district table below has the setbacks, height limits and coverage - confirm the specifics with the building department at (518) 392-1651 before you rely on a figure.
Looking specifically at an accessory dwelling unit? See ADU rules for Chatham →
Zoning districts
| District | Min lot | Setbacks F / S / R | Max height | ADU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hamlet One | 1.5 ac | 25 / 25 / 25 ft | 35 ft | As of right |
| Hamlet Two | 1.5 ac | 25 / 25 / 25 ft | 35 ft | As of right |
| Rural Lands One | 10 ac | 50 / 50 / 50 ft | 35 ft | As of right |
| Rural Lands Two | 5 ac | 50 / 50 / 50 ft | 35 ft | As of right |
| Rural Lands Three | 3 ac | 50 / 50 / 50 ft | 35 ft | As of right |
| Business | 2 ac | 25 / - / 50 ft | 35 ft | As of right |
| Industrial | 2 ac | 25 / 50 / 50 ft | 35 ft | No |
Hamlet One, Hamlet Two, Rural Lands One, Rural Lands Two, Rural Lands Three, Business, Industrial — Maximum height is 35 ft above average ground level in EVERY district except for farming purposes, and the Board of Appeals may authorise a variance above it where the increase would not be disruptive or hazardous (§ 180-26). That figure was absent from every district here. ON A TOWN ROAD THE REQUIRED SETBACK IS THE FRONT YARD PLUS 25 FT (180 Attachment 1, Exhibit A: "D = A + 25 FT"). The figure recorded above is the front yard A, so a town-road setback is 25 ft deeper than it reads. Exhibit A also defines how lot WIDTH is measured — parallel to the road, along the rear of the front yard, between the foremost and rearmost points of the lot — but the exhibit is a diagram legend and publishes no figure, which is why no lot width is recorded. A lot abutting more than one street must provide the required frontage along EVERY street (§ 180-8A). Structures may not project into a minimum yard, with stated exceptions: 2 ft 6 in for overhangs, cornices and bay windows; 5 ft for roofless porches, non-roof balconies and entrance steps over a width of at most 16 ft; at-grade terraces and retaining walls under 2 ft provided they keep 4 ft from any lot line; and fences, which are excluded from side and rear yards up to 6 ft and may project 4 ft into the front yard (§ 180-8B). Chapter 180 publishes no maximum lot coverage for this district.
Short-term rentals
Short-term rentals allowed with local rules. Local law adopted November 2023 (Local Law No. 6 of 2023) requires an annual STR permit from the Code Enforcement Officer, limits one permit per property owner, and mandates a local contact person within 20 miles. Applies to town outside Village of Chatham boundaries.
Good to know
- UtilityNYSEG territory.
- Zoning codeecode360.com/10484787
- Building dept(518) 392-1651
- Last reviewed2026-08-16
Working out a budget? A standard-finish build here runs $202–$265/sq ft , and a conforming lot adds about $17,460 on top - see the full cost to build a house in Chatham, or what an ADU costs here.
Sizing up a specific parcel in Chatham?
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 Columbia County towns
All Columbia County zoning: Hudson (City) · Ancram · Austerlitz · Canaan · Claverack · Clermont · Copake · Gallatin · Germantown · Ghent · Hillsdale · Kinderhook · Livingston · New Lebanon · Stockport · Stuyvesant · Taghkanic · Chatham (Village) · Kinderhook (Village) · Philmont (Village) · Valatie (Village)
Zoning figures for Town of Chatham are compiled from the municipal code (last reviewed 2026-08-16) 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) 392-1651 before relying on any number. Source: Offsite / Aldo zoning dataset, municipalData.js.