Columbia County
Village of Chatham, NY: zoning for new construction
Residential lots in the Village of Chatham run from a 0.17-acre minimum in Residential up to 0.34 acres in Suburban Residential, across 6 zoning districts in all. No local short-term-rental law on record - which is not the same as permission. Power here is Central Hudson territory. The district table below has the setbacks, height limits and coverage - confirm the specifics with the building department at (518) 392-5821 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential (1- & 2-family) | 0.17 ac | 30 / 15 / 30 ft | 35 ft | Special permit |
| Suburban Residential | 0.34 ac | 30 / 20 / 50 ft | 35 ft | Special permit |
| Commercial 1 | — | 0 / 0 / 30 ft | 40 ft | No |
| Commercial 2 (Church-Coleman) | 0.17 ac | 30 / 15 / 30 ft | 35 ft | Special permit |
| Commercial 3 (Southern Gateway) | 0.46 ac | 30 / 20 / 50 ft | 35 ft | No |
| Industrial | 0.92 ac | 50 / 30 / 30 ft | 35 ft | No |
Residential (1- & 2-family) — The base row is the 1- AND 2-FAMILY DWELLING case: 7,500 sq ft for the first unit PLUS 2,500 sq ft for the second, which is why the lot figure is the first-unit minimum. A nonresidential use takes 10,000 sq ft on a 75 ft lot. Minimum 1 storey, maximum 2 1/2 and 35 ft. THE RESIDENTIAL COVERAGE LIMIT IS A FORMULA, NOT A PERCENTAGE, and it is the same in EVERY district: maximum lot coverage for residential uses including associated accessory uses is 2,400 sq ft PLUS 25% of the lot area up to 3 acres PLUS 5% of the lot area beyond 3 acres. The percentage recorded above is the NONRESIDENTIAL figure, which is the only one this field can hold. The schedule sets a MINIMUM number of storeys as well as a maximum — a floor on building height, which is unusual and has no field. The Historic Overzone (HO) applies the density regulations of the underlying district, so it adds no figures of its own. See § 110-47 for existing undersized lots and § 110-24 for accessory structures and uses. Minimum 1 storey(s), maximum 2 1/2 and 35 ft. Nonresidential minimum lot width 75 ft.
Suburban Residential — The base row is the 1- AND 2-FAMILY DWELLING case: 15,000 sq ft for the first unit PLUS 5,000 sq ft for the second. A nonresidential use takes 20,000 sq ft on a 100 ft lot. THE RESIDENTIAL COVERAGE LIMIT IS A FORMULA, NOT A PERCENTAGE, and it is the same in EVERY district: maximum lot coverage for residential uses including associated accessory uses is 2,400 sq ft PLUS 25% of the lot area up to 3 acres PLUS 5% of the lot area beyond 3 acres. The percentage recorded above is the NONRESIDENTIAL figure, which is the only one this field can hold. The schedule sets a MINIMUM number of storeys as well as a maximum — a floor on building height, which is unusual and has no field. The Historic Overzone (HO) applies the density regulations of the underlying district, so it adds no figures of its own. See § 110-47 for existing undersized lots and § 110-24 for accessory structures and uses. Minimum 2 storey(s), maximum 2 1/2 and 35 ft. Nonresidential minimum lot width 100 ft.
Commercial 1 — C-1 PUBLISHES ALMOST NO LOT STANDARD: the schedule prints "N.R." — not required — for the residential and nonresidential minimum lot area AND for both lot widths. Its front yard is a RANGE of 0 to 10 ft residential and 0 to 0 ft nonresidential, and no coverage percentage is required. Note 1: the front yard shall be reduced or enlarged to conform to neighbourhood conditions. THE RESIDENTIAL COVERAGE LIMIT IS A FORMULA, NOT A PERCENTAGE, and it is the same in EVERY district: maximum lot coverage for residential uses including associated accessory uses is 2,400 sq ft PLUS 25% of the lot area up to 3 acres PLUS 5% of the lot area beyond 3 acres. The percentage recorded above is the NONRESIDENTIAL figure, which is the only one this field can hold. The schedule sets a MINIMUM number of storeys as well as a maximum — a floor on building height, which is unusual and has no field. The Historic Overzone (HO) applies the density regulations of the underlying district, so it adds no figures of its own. See § 110-47 for existing undersized lots and § 110-24 for accessory structures and uses. Minimum 2 storey(s), maximum 3 and 40 ft.
Commercial 2 (Church-Coleman) — C-2 is the Church-Coleman district. The base row is the residential case: 7,500 sq ft for the first unit PLUS 2,500 for the second. A nonresidential use takes 15,000 sq ft on a 75 ft lot. THE RESIDENTIAL COVERAGE LIMIT IS A FORMULA, NOT A PERCENTAGE, and it is the same in EVERY district: maximum lot coverage for residential uses including associated accessory uses is 2,400 sq ft PLUS 25% of the lot area up to 3 acres PLUS 5% of the lot area beyond 3 acres. The percentage recorded above is the NONRESIDENTIAL figure, which is the only one this field can hold. The schedule sets a MINIMUM number of storeys as well as a maximum — a floor on building height, which is unusual and has no field. The Historic Overzone (HO) applies the density regulations of the underlying district, so it adds no figures of its own. See § 110-47 for existing undersized lots and § 110-24 for accessory structures and uses. Minimum 2 storey(s), maximum 2 1/2 and 35 ft. Nonresidential minimum lot width 75 ft.
Commercial 3 (Southern Gateway) — C-3 is the Southern Gateway district. The schedule prints N.A. for a one- or two-family residential lot — the base row is the NONRESIDENTIAL standard of 20,000 sq ft, and the 100 ft width recorded above is that row's. Note #: more than one business may be allowed per lot, the number fixed when the special use permit issues, and the Planning Board may modify the side-yard setback for a multiple-use site. THE RESIDENTIAL COVERAGE LIMIT IS A FORMULA, NOT A PERCENTAGE, and it is the same in EVERY district: maximum lot coverage for residential uses including associated accessory uses is 2,400 sq ft PLUS 25% of the lot area up to 3 acres PLUS 5% of the lot area beyond 3 acres. The percentage recorded above is the NONRESIDENTIAL figure, which is the only one this field can hold. The schedule sets a MINIMUM number of storeys as well as a maximum — a floor on building height, which is unusual and has no field. The Historic Overzone (HO) applies the density regulations of the underlying district, so it adds no figures of its own. See § 110-47 for existing undersized lots and § 110-24 for accessory structures and uses. Minimum 2 storey(s), maximum 2 1/2 and 35 ft.
Industrial — The Industrial district's figures are nonresidential. THE RESIDENTIAL COVERAGE LIMIT IS A FORMULA, NOT A PERCENTAGE, and it is the same in EVERY district: maximum lot coverage for residential uses including associated accessory uses is 2,400 sq ft PLUS 25% of the lot area up to 3 acres PLUS 5% of the lot area beyond 3 acres. The percentage recorded above is the NONRESIDENTIAL figure, which is the only one this field can hold. The schedule sets a MINIMUM number of storeys as well as a maximum — a floor on building height, which is unusual and has no field. The Historic Overzone (HO) applies the density regulations of the underlying district, so it adds no figures of its own. See § 110-47 for existing undersized lots and § 110-24 for accessory structures and uses. Minimum 2 storey(s), maximum 3 and 40 ft.
Short-term rentals
No local short-term-rental law on record - which is not the same as permission. No Village of Chatham STR ordinance found as of Jun 2026. The surrounding Town of Chatham has its own STR law (LL No. 6 of 2023) that does not apply within village boundaries. Village has a general rental property registration chapter only.
Good to know
- UtilityCentral Hudson territory.
- Zoning codeecode360.com/29136282
- Building dept(518) 392-5821
- Last reviewed2026-06-02
Working out a budget? A standard-finish build here runs $202–$265/sq ft , and a conforming lot adds about $14,026 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 · Chatham · Claverack · Clermont · Copake · Gallatin · Germantown · Ghent · Hillsdale · Kinderhook · Livingston · New Lebanon · Stockport · Stuyvesant · Taghkanic · Kinderhook (Village) · Philmont (Village) · Valatie (Village)
Zoning figures for Village of Chatham are compiled from the municipal code (last reviewed 2026-06-02) 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) 392-5821 before relying on any number. Source: Offsite / Aldo zoning dataset, municipalData.js.