ADU · Columbia County
Can you build an ADU in Clermont, NY?
Town of Clermont has 6 districts. All districts allow ADUs with a special-use permit. Check your address to confirm the district that applies to your parcel:
What the Clermont 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential Agricultural | 2 ac | 50 / 30 / 50 ft | 35 ft | Special permit |
| Hamlet | 1 ac | 25 / 25 / 25 ft | 35 ft | Special permit |
| Residential Limited Business (3A) | 3 ac | 75 / 50 / 75 ft | 35 ft | Special permit |
| Low Density Residential | 5 ac | 75 / 50 / 100 ft | 35 ft | Special permit |
| Residential Limited Business (1A) | 1 ac | 50 / 20 / 30 ft | 35 ft | Special permit |
| Roe Jan Corridor | 5 ac | 50 / 50 / 50 ft | 35 ft | Special permit |
Residential Agricultural — Minimum ROAD FRONTAGE is 50 ft in every district and has no field. Setbacks are measured from property lines (note 2). An accessory structure may not stand in a front yard, nor within 10 ft of any side or rear property line (note 3). Wind energy conversion systems may reach 150 ft rather than the 35 ft building limit. The 35 ft height does not bind telecommunication towers, small WECS, church spires, belfries, monuments, tanks, bulkheads, smokestacks, solar equipment, satellite dishes, silos, barns or other farm structures and flagpoles (§ 4.5), and the Zoning Board of Appeals may approve above it. § 4.6 requires 700 sq ft of floor space per single-family dwelling unit in ALL districts, excluding the basement; it does NOT apply to apartment units, and an accessory apartment must simply be smaller than the unit it is accessory to. No single commercial building may exceed 20,000 sq ft of lot coverage (§ 4.6). § 3.22 preserves existing one-acre RA parcels in common ownership as one-acre lots. TWO PER-USE RULES THAT CHANGE NO FIGURE, which is why neither is a variant. § 4.14.17: the minimum lot area for a MULTIFAMILY dwelling is the same as for a single-family dwelling in the same district — multifamily needs no extra land here. § 4.14.10: converting an existing one-family residence to a two- or multifamily one keeps the existing lot area, by special permit, in every district but PID; it does not reach new construction.
Hamlet, Residential Limited Business (3A), Low Density Residential, Residential Limited Business (1A) — Minimum ROAD FRONTAGE is 50 ft in every district and has no field. Setbacks are measured from property lines (note 2). An accessory structure may not stand in a front yard, nor within 10 ft of any side or rear property line (note 3). Wind energy conversion systems may reach 150 ft rather than the 35 ft building limit. The 35 ft height does not bind telecommunication towers, small WECS, church spires, belfries, monuments, tanks, bulkheads, smokestacks, solar equipment, satellite dishes, silos, barns or other farm structures and flagpoles (§ 4.5), and the Zoning Board of Appeals may approve above it. § 4.6 requires 700 sq ft of floor space per single-family dwelling unit in ALL districts, excluding the basement; it does NOT apply to apartment units, and an accessory apartment must simply be smaller than the unit it is accessory to. No single commercial building may exceed 20,000 sq ft of lot coverage (§ 4.6). TWO PER-USE RULES THAT CHANGE NO FIGURE, which is why neither is a variant. § 4.14.17: the minimum lot area for a MULTIFAMILY dwelling is the same as for a single-family dwelling in the same district — multifamily needs no extra land here. § 4.14.10: converting an existing one-family residence to a two- or multifamily one keeps the existing lot area, by special permit, in every district but PID; it does not reach new construction.
Roe Jan Corridor — A Roe Jan Corridor lot must ALSO have 450 ft of STREAM FRONTAGE (schedule note 1) — a requirement with no field, additional to the lot width above. Minimum ROAD FRONTAGE is 50 ft in every district and has no field. Setbacks are measured from property lines (note 2). An accessory structure may not stand in a front yard, nor within 10 ft of any side or rear property line (note 3). Wind energy conversion systems may reach 150 ft rather than the 35 ft building limit. The 35 ft height does not bind telecommunication towers, small WECS, church spires, belfries, monuments, tanks, bulkheads, smokestacks, solar equipment, satellite dishes, silos, barns or other farm structures and flagpoles (§ 4.5), and the Zoning Board of Appeals may approve above it. § 4.6 requires 700 sq ft of floor space per single-family dwelling unit in ALL districts, excluding the basement; it does NOT apply to apartment units, and an accessory apartment must simply be smaller than the unit it is accessory to. No single commercial building may exceed 20,000 sq ft of lot coverage (§ 4.6). TWO PER-USE RULES THAT CHANGE NO FIGURE, which is why neither is a variant. § 4.14.17: the minimum lot area for a MULTIFAMILY dwelling is the same as for a single-family dwelling in the same district — multifamily needs no extra land here. § 4.14.10: converting an existing one-family residence to a two- or multifamily one keeps the existing lot area, by special permit, in every district but PID; it does not reach new construction.
ADUs vs. short-term rentals in Clermont
No local short-term-rental law on record - which is not the same as permission for Town of Clermont. No local STR ordinance found as of Jun 2026. Columbia County occupancy tax applies. 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 minimum1–5 ac — an ADU still has to fit the district's lot and setback envelope.
- UtilityCentral Hudson territory.
- Zoning codeclermontny.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Clermont-Zoning-Book.pdf
- Building dept(518) 537-6868
- Last reviewed2026-08-16
ADU FAQ — Clermont, NY
Are ADUs allowed in Clermont, NY?
Town of Clermont has 6 districts. All districts allow ADUs with a special-use permit. Check your address with the free ADU checker, or confirm with the building department at (518) 537-6868.
Do I need a special permit for an ADU in Clermont?
Yes. Every district in Town of Clermont requires a special-use permit for an ADU rather than allowing one as of right. Check the conditions attached to it before you design.
Can I use an ADU as a short-term rental in Clermont?
No local short-term-rental law on record - which is not the same as permission for Town of Clermont. 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 Clermont
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 Clermont, priced by size.
More on Clermont: Full zoning for new construction · ADU build cost · House build cost · All Columbia County towns
ADU information for Town of Clermont is compiled from the municipal code (last reviewed 2026-08-16) 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) 537-6868 before relying on any answer. Source: Offsite / Aldo zoning dataset, municipalData.js.