ADU · Columbia County
Can you build an ADU in Kinderhook, NY?
Village of Kinderhook has 7 districts. All districts prohibit ADUs. Check your address to confirm the district that applies to your parcel:
What the Kinderhook 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agricultural | 2.75 ac | 15 / 30 / 100 ft | 35 ft | No |
| Agricultural Residential | 0.46 ac | 15 / 30 / 50 ft | 35 ft | No |
| Residential | 0.46 ac | 15 / 25 / 50 ft | 35 ft | No |
| Residential 1 | 0.46 ac | 15 / 30 / 50 ft | 35 ft | No |
| Business 1 | — | 10 / - / - ft | 35 ft | No |
| Business 2 | 0.46 ac | 15 / 15 / 35 ft | 35 ft | No |
| Light Industrial | 2.75 ac | 15 / 15 / 35 ft | 35 ft | No |
Agricultural — A publishes the same 120,000 sq ft for residential and nonresidential lots, and its density matches its lot minimum. The schedule prints "Does not apply" for the maximum front yard. For lots in subdivisions approved before 29 June 2000 there is NO minimum and NO maximum front yard (notes 4 and 5), and the Planning Board may modify the maximum front yard for a lot in subdivision review under Chapter 110 (note 6). A structure destroyed by fire, storm or other act of God may be rebuilt in its own footprint within one year even where the side yard and coverage requirements are not met, provided it meets the standards for on-site sewage disposal (note 1). Two OVERLAY zones sit outside this schedule and neither is a base district: H follows the base zone density requirements, and F-2, the 500-Year Flood Plain Overlay, is at § 130-23R.
Agricultural Residential — AR IS THE DISTRICT WHERE DENSITY AND LOT SIZE DIVERGE MOST: a 20,000 sq ft minimum lot against a density of one dwelling unit per 120,000 sq ft — six times the land per house. Note 3 fills in the dimensions the schedule leaves blank: for a CONSERVATION SUBDIVISION in AR they are whatever the approved final subdivision plat shows, and for a parcel that has not been part of one, the R-1 District dimensions apply — which is where the 150 ft width, 30 ft side, 50 ft rear and 60 ft maximum front yard recorded here come from. The front yard is a RANGE: the recorded figure is the MINIMUM and the schedule also sets a MAXIMUM of 60 ft. For lots in subdivisions approved before 29 June 2000 there is NO minimum and NO maximum front yard (notes 4 and 5), and the Planning Board may modify the maximum front yard for a lot in subdivision review under Chapter 110 (note 6). A structure destroyed by fire, storm or other act of God may be rebuilt in its own footprint within one year even where the side yard and coverage requirements are not met, provided it meets the standards for on-site sewage disposal (note 1). Two OVERLAY zones sit outside this schedule and neither is a base district: H follows the base zone density requirements, and F-2, the 500-Year Flood Plain Overlay, is at § 130-23R.
Residential — R is the one residential district whose density and minimum lot area agree, both 20,000 sq ft. The front yard is a RANGE: the recorded figure is the MINIMUM and the schedule also sets a MAXIMUM of 50 ft. For lots in subdivisions approved before 29 June 2000 there is NO minimum and NO maximum front yard (notes 4 and 5), and the Planning Board may modify the maximum front yard for a lot in subdivision review under Chapter 110 (note 6). A structure destroyed by fire, storm or other act of God may be rebuilt in its own footprint within one year even where the side yard and coverage requirements are not met, provided it meets the standards for on-site sewage disposal (note 1). Two OVERLAY zones sit outside this schedule and neither is a base district: H follows the base zone density requirements, and F-2, the 500-Year Flood Plain Overlay, is at § 130-23R.
Residential 1 — R-1 has a 20,000 sq ft minimum lot but a density of one dwelling unit per 40,000 sq ft — twice the land per house. Its NONRESIDENTIAL minimum lot area is 40,000 sq ft, double the residential. The front yard is a RANGE: the recorded figure is the MINIMUM and the schedule also sets a MAXIMUM of 60 ft. For lots in subdivisions approved before 29 June 2000 there is NO minimum and NO maximum front yard (notes 4 and 5), and the Planning Board may modify the maximum front yard for a lot in subdivision review under Chapter 110 (note 6). A structure destroyed by fire, storm or other act of God may be rebuilt in its own footprint within one year even where the side yard and coverage requirements are not met, provided it meets the standards for on-site sewage disposal (note 1). Two OVERLAY zones sit outside this schedule and neither is a base district: H follows the base zone density requirements, and F-2, the 500-Year Flood Plain Overlay, is at § 130-23R.
Business 1 — THE BASE ROW IS NONRESIDENTIAL and B-1 publishes NO minimum lot area or lot width for it — only a front yard of 10 ft minimum and 10 ft MAXIMUM, a coverage of 50%, and note 2 for the side yard: none required except where the lot abuts a residential district, and at least 12.5 ft if provided. The schedule prints no rear yard at all. The front yard is a RANGE: the recorded figure is the MINIMUM and the schedule also sets a MAXIMUM of 10 ft. For lots in subdivisions approved before 29 June 2000 there is NO minimum and NO maximum front yard (notes 4 and 5), and the Planning Board may modify the maximum front yard for a lot in subdivision review under Chapter 110 (note 6). A structure destroyed by fire, storm or other act of God may be rebuilt in its own footprint within one year even where the side yard and coverage requirements are not met, provided it meets the standards for on-site sewage disposal (note 1). Two OVERLAY zones sit outside this schedule and neither is a base district: H follows the base zone density requirements, and F-2, the 500-Year Flood Plain Overlay, is at § 130-23R.
Business 2 — The base row is the NONRESIDENTIAL standard of 20,000 sq ft on a 100 ft lot at 10% coverage. Residential use takes the R District standards, recorded as variants. The front yard is a RANGE: the recorded figure is the MINIMUM and the schedule also sets a MAXIMUM of 45 ft. For lots in subdivisions approved before 29 June 2000 there is NO minimum and NO maximum front yard (notes 4 and 5), and the Planning Board may modify the maximum front yard for a lot in subdivision review under Chapter 110 (note 6). A structure destroyed by fire, storm or other act of God may be rebuilt in its own footprint within one year even where the side yard and coverage requirements are not met, provided it meets the standards for on-site sewage disposal (note 1). Two OVERLAY zones sit outside this schedule and neither is a base district: H follows the base zone density requirements, and F-2, the 500-Year Flood Plain Overlay, is at § 130-23R.
Light Industrial — F-1 is NONRESIDENTIAL ONLY — that is the schedule's entire residential entry for the district. Its 120,000 sq ft minimum is the nonresidential figure. The front yard is a RANGE: the recorded figure is the MINIMUM and the schedule also sets a MAXIMUM of 45 ft. For lots in subdivisions approved before 29 June 2000 there is NO minimum and NO maximum front yard (notes 4 and 5), and the Planning Board may modify the maximum front yard for a lot in subdivision review under Chapter 110 (note 6). A structure destroyed by fire, storm or other act of God may be rebuilt in its own footprint within one year even where the side yard and coverage requirements are not met, provided it meets the standards for on-site sewage disposal (note 1). Two OVERLAY zones sit outside this schedule and neither is a base district: H follows the base zone density requirements, and F-2, the 500-Year Flood Plain Overlay, is at § 130-23R.
ADUs vs. short-term rentals in Kinderhook
Short-term rentals allowed with local rules for Village of Kinderhook. Local Law No. 2-2023 (adopted Feb 8, 2023, codified as Chapter 133A). Annual permit required; nonhosted STR permits capped at 12 village-wide (first-come waiting list). Nonhosted rentals limited to 60 days/year. Proof of liability insurance required. 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 minimum0.46–2.75 ac — an ADU still has to fit the district's lot and setback envelope.
- UtilityCentral Hudson territory.
- Zoning codeecode360.com/12307601
- Building dept(518) 758-9882
- Last reviewed2026-06-02
ADU FAQ — Kinderhook, NY
Are ADUs allowed in Kinderhook, NY?
Village of Kinderhook has 7 districts. All districts prohibit ADUs. Check your address with the free ADU checker, or confirm with the building department at (518) 758-9882.
Do I need a special permit for an ADU in Kinderhook?
No. No district in Village of Kinderhook permits an ADU, so there is no permit to apply for. Codes change, so verify with the building department at (518) 758-9882 before ruling it out.
Can I use an ADU as a short-term rental in Kinderhook?
Short-term rentals allowed with local rules for Village of Kinderhook. 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 Kinderhook
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 Kinderhook, priced by size.
More on Kinderhook: Full zoning for new construction · ADU build cost · House build cost · All Columbia County towns
ADU information for Village of Kinderhook is compiled from the municipal code (last reviewed 2026-06-02) 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) 758-9882 before relying on any answer. Source: Offsite / Aldo zoning dataset, municipalData.js.