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Dutchess County

City of Beacon, NY: zoning for new construction

23 districts Min residential lot 0.1148–2.7548 ac Central Hudson

Beacon's residential zoning is laid out as a gradient - the R1 districts step from R1-120 down to R1-5, so minimum lots shrink from about 2.75 acres near the edges to a tenth of an acre in the densest neighborhoods. If you're banking on short-term rental income, read the law first: Beacon only permits STRs in your primary residence, caps them at 100 days a year, and requires a two-year permit. The upside for owner-builders is that an ADU is allowed by right in nine of the eleven districts - check your parcel's zone with the Building Department at (845) 838-5011.

Looking specifically at an accessory dwelling unit? See ADU rules for Beacon →

Zoning districts

District Min lot Setbacks F / S / R Max height ADU
One-Family Residence 120,000 Square Feet 2.7548 ac 70 / 50 / 75 ft 35 ft Occupancy restricted
One-Family Residence 80,000 Square Feet 1.8365 ac 45 / 30 / 50 ft 35 ft Occupancy restricted
One-Family Residence 40,000 Square Feet 0.9183 ac 35 / 25 / 50 ft 35 ft Occupancy restricted
One-Family Residence 20,000 Square Feet 0.4591 ac 25 / 20 / 40 ft 35 ft Occupancy restricted
One-Family Residence 10,000 Square Feet 0.2296 ac 20 / 15 / 35 ft 35 ft Occupancy restricted
One-Family Residence 7,500 Square Feet 0.1722 ac 15 / 10 / 25 ft 35 ft Occupancy restricted
One-Family Residence 5,000 Square Feet 0.1148 ac 10 / 10 / 20 ft 35 ft Occupancy restricted
Residence District 7,500 Square Feet per Unit 2 ac 20 / 25 / 50 ft 35 ft
Residence District 6,000 Square Feet per Unit 2 ac 50 / 25 / 50 ft 35 ft
Residence District 5,000 Square Feet per Unit 0.1148 ac 30 / 10 / 25 ft 35 ft
Residence District 4,000 Square Feet per Unit 0.1148 ac 40 / 20 / 40 ft 35 ft
Residence District 3,000 Square Feet per Unit 0.1148 ac 30 / 20 / 25 ft 45 ft
Residence District 1,800 Square Feet per Unit 0.1148 ac 30 / 20 / 25 ft 100 ft
Residence District 1,700 Square Feet per Unit 0.1148 ac 30 / 20 / 25 ft 55 ft
Transitional 0.1148 ac 10 / 10 / 20 ft 35 ft Occupancy restricted
General Business 15 / 20 / 25 ft 35 ft Occupancy restricted
Corridor Mixed-Use Service 0 / 0 / 20 ft 38 ft Occupancy restricted
Linkage 0 / 0 / 25 ft 48 ft
Fishkill Creek Development 2 ac 40 ft
Waterfront Park 1 ac 10 / - / - ft 35 ft
Tidal Shoreline 3 ac
Light Industrial 20 / 20 / 25 ft 35 ft Occupancy restricted
Heavy Industrial 30 / 20 / 25 ft 40 ft

One-Family Residence 120,000 Square Feet — Lot area is set twice — an overall minimum and 120,000 sq ft PER DWELLING UNIT — and both bind. Minimum lot width 250 ft and minimum lot DEPTH 350 ft; depth is a separate test from area and width. No building may contain more than 1 dwelling unit. Height is capped at 2 1/2 stories as well as 35 ft. On any development proposal covering more than three acres in an R1, RD or Fishkill Creek Development district, the lot area PER DWELLING UNIT is calculated on net acreage: surface water, federal regulatory floodway, state or federally regulated wetland, and predevelopment slopes of 25% or steeper all come off the lot area first (§ 223-63).

One-Family Residence 80,000 Square Feet — Lot area is set twice — an overall minimum and 80,000 sq ft PER DWELLING UNIT — and both bind. Minimum lot width 150 ft and minimum lot DEPTH 200 ft; depth is a separate test from area and width. No building may contain more than 1 dwelling unit. Height is capped at 2 1/2 stories as well as 35 ft. On any development proposal covering more than three acres in an R1, RD or Fishkill Creek Development district, the lot area PER DWELLING UNIT is calculated on net acreage: surface water, federal regulatory floodway, state or federally regulated wetland, and predevelopment slopes of 25% or steeper all come off the lot area first (§ 223-63).

One-Family Residence 40,000 Square Feet — Lot area is set twice — an overall minimum and 40,000 sq ft PER DWELLING UNIT — and both bind. Minimum lot width 150 ft and minimum lot DEPTH 150 ft; depth is a separate test from area and width. No building may contain more than 1 dwelling unit. Height is capped at 2 1/2 stories as well as 35 ft. On any development proposal covering more than three acres in an R1, RD or Fishkill Creek Development district, the lot area PER DWELLING UNIT is calculated on net acreage: surface water, federal regulatory floodway, state or federally regulated wetland, and predevelopment slopes of 25% or steeper all come off the lot area first (§ 223-63).

One-Family Residence 20,000 Square Feet — Lot area is set twice — an overall minimum and 20,000 sq ft PER DWELLING UNIT — and both bind. Minimum lot width 125 ft and minimum lot DEPTH 125 ft; depth is a separate test from area and width. No building may contain more than 1 dwelling unit. Height is capped at 2 1/2 stories as well as 35 ft. On any development proposal covering more than three acres in an R1, RD or Fishkill Creek Development district, the lot area PER DWELLING UNIT is calculated on net acreage: surface water, federal regulatory floodway, state or federally regulated wetland, and predevelopment slopes of 25% or steeper all come off the lot area first (§ 223-63).

One-Family Residence 10,000 Square Feet — Lot area is set twice — an overall minimum and 10,000 sq ft PER DWELLING UNIT — and both bind. Minimum lot width 85 ft and minimum lot DEPTH 100 ft; depth is a separate test from area and width. No building may contain more than 1 dwelling unit. Height is capped at 2 1/2 stories as well as 35 ft. On any development proposal covering more than three acres in an R1, RD or Fishkill Creek Development district, the lot area PER DWELLING UNIT is calculated on net acreage: surface water, federal regulatory floodway, state or federally regulated wetland, and predevelopment slopes of 25% or steeper all come off the lot area first (§ 223-63).

One-Family Residence 7,500 Square Feet — Lot area is set twice — an overall minimum and 7,500 sq ft PER DWELLING UNIT — and both bind. Minimum lot width 75 ft and minimum lot DEPTH 100 ft; depth is a separate test from area and width. No building may contain more than 1 dwelling unit. Height is capped at 2 1/2 stories as well as 35 ft. On any development proposal covering more than three acres in an R1, RD or Fishkill Creek Development district, the lot area PER DWELLING UNIT is calculated on net acreage: surface water, federal regulatory floodway, state or federally regulated wetland, and predevelopment slopes of 25% or steeper all come off the lot area first (§ 223-63).

One-Family Residence 5,000 Square Feet — The lot is 5,000 sq ft but the area PER UNIT is 2,500, so two dwelling units are allowed on it — the only R1 district where the two figures differ. Lot area is set twice — an overall minimum and 2,500 sq ft PER DWELLING UNIT — and both bind. Minimum lot width 50 ft and minimum lot DEPTH 100 ft; depth is a separate test from area and width. No building may contain more than 2 dwelling units. Height is capped at 2 1/2 stories as well as 35 ft. On any development proposal covering more than three acres in an R1, RD or Fishkill Creek Development district, the lot area PER DWELLING UNIT is calculated on net acreage: surface water, federal regulatory floodway, state or federally regulated wetland, and predevelopment slopes of 25% or steeper all come off the lot area first (§ 223-63).

Residence District 7,500 Square Feet per Unit — In any RD or T District the Planning Board may approve subdivision into individual lots of as little as 1,800 sq ft each for attached or semi-attached single-family dwellings, provided the gross density over the whole tract stays within what the district allows for multiple dwellings; it may also cut the side yards to ZERO for such a subdivision, except that an end unit keeps at least half the side yard of the least restrictive adjoining residential district. A multifamily development also needs a landscaped recreation or usable open space area of 2,000 sq ft for the first 20 dwelling units and 100 sq ft for each unit beyond that. The front yard is published as a RANGE, 20 to 35 ft, not a plain minimum. Lot area is set twice — an overall minimum and 7,500 sq ft PER DWELLING UNIT — and both bind. Minimum lot width 200 ft and minimum lot DEPTH 200 ft; depth is a separate test from area and width. Building coverage is published twice: 15% for a MULTIFAMILY building and 20% for anything else. The figure recorded is the all-other one. No building may contain more than 12 dwelling units. Buildings on the same lot must stand at least 30 ft apart. Height is capped at 3 stories as well as 35 ft. On any development proposal covering more than three acres in an R1, RD or Fishkill Creek Development district, the lot area PER DWELLING UNIT is calculated on net acreage: surface water, federal regulatory floodway, state or federally regulated wetland, and predevelopment slopes of 25% or steeper all come off the lot area first (§ 223-63).

Residence District 6,000 Square Feet per Unit — In any RD or T District the Planning Board may approve subdivision into individual lots of as little as 1,800 sq ft each for attached or semi-attached single-family dwellings, provided the gross density over the whole tract stays within what the district allows for multiple dwellings; it may also cut the side yards to ZERO for such a subdivision, except that an end unit keeps at least half the side yard of the least restrictive adjoining residential district. A multifamily development also needs a landscaped recreation or usable open space area of 2,000 sq ft for the first 20 dwelling units and 100 sq ft for each unit beyond that. Lot area is set twice — an overall minimum and 6,000 sq ft PER DWELLING UNIT — and both bind. Minimum lot width 200 ft and minimum lot DEPTH 200 ft; depth is a separate test from area and width. Building coverage is published twice: 15% for a MULTIFAMILY building and 20% for anything else. The figure recorded is the all-other one. No building may contain more than 16 dwelling units. Buildings on the same lot must stand at least 30 ft apart. Height is capped at 2 1/2 stories as well as 35 ft. On any development proposal covering more than three acres in an R1, RD or Fishkill Creek Development district, the lot area PER DWELLING UNIT is calculated on net acreage: surface water, federal regulatory floodway, state or federally regulated wetland, and predevelopment slopes of 25% or steeper all come off the lot area first (§ 223-63).

Residence District 5,000 Square Feet per Unit — In any RD or T District the Planning Board may approve subdivision into individual lots of as little as 1,800 sq ft each for attached or semi-attached single-family dwellings, provided the gross density over the whole tract stays within what the district allows for multiple dwellings; it may also cut the side yards to ZERO for such a subdivision, except that an end unit keeps at least half the side yard of the least restrictive adjoining residential district. A multifamily development also needs a landscaped recreation or usable open space area of 2,000 sq ft for the first 20 dwelling units and 100 sq ft for each unit beyond that. Lot area is set twice — an overall minimum and 5,000 sq ft PER DWELLING UNIT — and both bind. Minimum lot width 50 ft and minimum lot DEPTH 100 ft; depth is a separate test from area and width. Building coverage is published twice: 20% for a MULTIFAMILY building and 30% for anything else. The figure recorded is the all-other one. No building may contain more than 16 dwelling units. Buildings on the same lot must stand at least 30 ft apart. Height is capped at 3 stories as well as 35 ft. On any development proposal covering more than three acres in an R1, RD or Fishkill Creek Development district, the lot area PER DWELLING UNIT is calculated on net acreage: surface water, federal regulatory floodway, state or federally regulated wetland, and predevelopment slopes of 25% or steeper all come off the lot area first (§ 223-63).

Residence District 4,000 Square Feet per Unit — In any RD or T District the Planning Board may approve subdivision into individual lots of as little as 1,800 sq ft each for attached or semi-attached single-family dwellings, provided the gross density over the whole tract stays within what the district allows for multiple dwellings; it may also cut the side yards to ZERO for such a subdivision, except that an end unit keeps at least half the side yard of the least restrictive adjoining residential district. A multifamily development also needs a landscaped recreation or usable open space area of 2,000 sq ft for the first 20 dwelling units and 100 sq ft for each unit beyond that. Lot area is set twice — an overall minimum and 4,000 sq ft PER DWELLING UNIT — and both bind. Minimum lot width 200 ft and minimum lot DEPTH 200 ft; depth is a separate test from area and width. Building coverage is published twice: 20% for a MULTIFAMILY building and 25% for anything else. The figure recorded is the all-other one. No building may contain more than 20 dwelling units. Buildings on the same lot must stand at least 30 ft apart. Height is capped at 2 1/2 stories as well as 35 ft. On any development proposal covering more than three acres in an R1, RD or Fishkill Creek Development district, the lot area PER DWELLING UNIT is calculated on net acreage: surface water, federal regulatory floodway, state or federally regulated wetland, and predevelopment slopes of 25% or steeper all come off the lot area first (§ 223-63).

Residence District 3,000 Square Feet per Unit — In any RD or T District the Planning Board may approve subdivision into individual lots of as little as 1,800 sq ft each for attached or semi-attached single-family dwellings, provided the gross density over the whole tract stays within what the district allows for multiple dwellings; it may also cut the side yards to ZERO for such a subdivision, except that an end unit keeps at least half the side yard of the least restrictive adjoining residential district. A multifamily development also needs a landscaped recreation or usable open space area of 2,000 sq ft for the first 20 dwelling units and 100 sq ft for each unit beyond that. Lot area is set twice — an overall minimum and 3,000 sq ft PER DWELLING UNIT — and both bind. Minimum lot width 50 ft and minimum lot DEPTH 100 ft; depth is a separate test from area and width. Building coverage is published twice: 20% for a MULTIFAMILY building and 40% for anything else. The figure recorded is the all-other one. No building may contain more than 24 dwelling units. Buildings on the same lot must stand at least 30 ft apart. Height is capped at 3 1/2 stories as well as 45 ft. On any development proposal covering more than three acres in an R1, RD or Fishkill Creek Development district, the lot area PER DWELLING UNIT is calculated on net acreage: surface water, federal regulatory floodway, state or federally regulated wetland, and predevelopment slopes of 25% or steeper all come off the lot area first (§ 223-63).

Residence District 1,800 Square Feet per Unit — RD-1.8 is the tallest district in the City at 10 storeys and 100 ft, but no more than 65% of the dwelling units in a development may sit in buildings over 3 1/2 storeys, and no building of 3 1/2 storeys or less may hold more than 24 units. In any RD or T District the Planning Board may approve subdivision into individual lots of as little as 1,800 sq ft each for attached or semi-attached single-family dwellings, provided the gross density over the whole tract stays within what the district allows for multiple dwellings; it may also cut the side yards to ZERO for such a subdivision, except that an end unit keeps at least half the side yard of the least restrictive adjoining residential district. A multifamily development also needs a landscaped recreation or usable open space area of 2,000 sq ft for the first 20 dwelling units and 100 sq ft for each unit beyond that. Lot area is set twice — an overall minimum and 1,800 sq ft PER DWELLING UNIT — and both bind. Minimum lot width 50 ft and minimum lot DEPTH 100 ft; depth is a separate test from area and width. Building coverage is published twice: 25% for a MULTIFAMILY building and 40% for anything else. The figure recorded is the all-other one. Buildings on the same lot must stand at least 30 ft apart. Height is capped at 10 stories as well as 100 ft. On any development proposal covering more than three acres in an R1, RD or Fishkill Creek Development district, the lot area PER DWELLING UNIT is calculated on net acreage: surface water, federal regulatory floodway, state or federally regulated wetland, and predevelopment slopes of 25% or steeper all come off the lot area first (§ 223-63).

Residence District 1,700 Square Feet per Unit — One storey of parking underneath a building does not count toward either the storey or the height limit. No building may exceed 150 ft in length. In any RD or T District the Planning Board may approve subdivision into individual lots of as little as 1,800 sq ft each for attached or semi-attached single-family dwellings, provided the gross density over the whole tract stays within what the district allows for multiple dwellings; it may also cut the side yards to ZERO for such a subdivision, except that an end unit keeps at least half the side yard of the least restrictive adjoining residential district. A multifamily development also needs a landscaped recreation or usable open space area of 2,000 sq ft for the first 20 dwelling units and 100 sq ft for each unit beyond that. Lot area is set twice — an overall minimum and 1,700 sq ft PER DWELLING UNIT — and both bind. Minimum lot width 50 ft and minimum lot DEPTH 100 ft; depth is a separate test from area and width. Building coverage is published twice: 25% for a MULTIFAMILY building and 40% for anything else. The figure recorded is the all-other one. No building may contain more than 36 dwelling units. Buildings on the same lot must stand at least 30 ft apart. Height is capped at 4 1/2 stories as well as 55 ft. On any development proposal covering more than three acres in an R1, RD or Fishkill Creek Development district, the lot area PER DWELLING UNIT is calculated on net acreage: surface water, federal regulatory floodway, state or federally regulated wetland, and predevelopment slopes of 25% or steeper all come off the lot area first (§ 223-63).

Transitional — The lot area per dwelling unit in T is not a figure: it is HALF the minimum lot size per dwelling unit of the least restrictive adjoining residential district, so it depends on what the parcel adjoins. In any RD or T District the Planning Board may approve subdivision into individual lots of as little as 1,800 sq ft each for attached or semi-attached single-family dwellings, provided the gross density over the whole tract stays within what the district allows for multiple dwellings; it may also cut the side yards to ZERO for such a subdivision, except that an end unit keeps at least half the side yard of the least restrictive adjoining residential district. A multifamily development also needs a landscaped recreation or usable open space area of 2,000 sq ft for the first 20 dwelling units and 100 sq ft for each unit beyond that. Minimum lot width 50 ft and minimum lot DEPTH 100 ft; depth is a separate test from area and width. Height is capped at 2 1/2 stories as well as 35 ft. On any development proposal covering more than three acres in an R1, RD or Fishkill Creek Development district, the lot area PER DWELLING UNIT is calculated on net acreage: surface water, federal regulatory floodway, state or federally regulated wetland, and predevelopment slopes of 25% or steeper all come off the lot area first (§ 223-63).

General Business — General Business sets no lot area, no lot width and no coverage limit, but it does set 1,500 sq ft of lot area per dwelling unit and a 100 ft minimum lot depth. Lot area is set twice — an overall minimum and 1,500 sq ft PER DWELLING UNIT — and both bind. Minimum lot width is not set and minimum lot DEPTH 100 ft; depth is a separate test from area and width. On any development proposal covering more than three acres in an R1, RD or Fishkill Creek Development district, the lot area PER DWELLING UNIT is calculated on net acreage: surface water, federal regulatory floodway, state or federally regulated wetland, and predevelopment slopes of 25% or steeper all come off the lot area first (§ 223-63).

Corridor Mixed-Use Service — The front yard is published as a RANGE, 0 to 10 ft, not a plain minimum. Minimum lot width is not set and minimum lot DEPTH 75 ft; depth is a separate test from area and width. Height is capped at 3 stories as well as 38 ft. A minimum of 10% of the lot must be open space. On any development proposal covering more than three acres in an R1, RD or Fishkill Creek Development district, the lot area PER DWELLING UNIT is calculated on net acreage: surface water, federal regulatory floodway, state or federally regulated wetland, and predevelopment slopes of 25% or steeper all come off the lot area first (§ 223-63).

Linkage — Both the front and the side yard are published as ranges rather than minimums. The front yard is published as a RANGE, 0 to 20 ft, not a plain minimum. The side yard is published as a RANGE, 0 to 30 ft. Minimum lot width is not set and minimum lot DEPTH 75 ft; depth is a separate test from area and width. Height is capped at 4 stories as well as 48 ft. A minimum of 15% of the lot must be open space. On any development proposal covering more than three acres in an R1, RD or Fishkill Creek Development district, the lot area PER DWELLING UNIT is calculated on net acreage: surface water, federal regulatory floodway, state or federally regulated wetland, and predevelopment slopes of 25% or steeper all come off the lot area first (§ 223-63).

Fishkill Creek Development — Lot area is set twice — an overall minimum and 3,960 sq ft PER DWELLING UNIT — and both bind. Height is capped at 3 stories as well as 40 ft. A minimum of 30% of the lot must be open space. On any development proposal covering more than three acres in an R1, RD or Fishkill Creek Development district, the lot area PER DWELLING UNIT is calculated on net acreage: surface water, federal regulatory floodway, state or federally regulated wetland, and predevelopment slopes of 25% or steeper all come off the lot area first (§ 223-63).

Waterfront Park — Height is capped at 2 1/2 stories as well as 35 ft. On any development proposal covering more than three acres in an R1, RD or Fishkill Creek Development district, the lot area PER DWELLING UNIT is calculated on net acreage: surface water, federal regulatory floodway, state or federally regulated wetland, and predevelopment slopes of 25% or steeper all come off the lot area first (§ 223-63).

Tidal Shoreline — The Tidal Shoreline District publishes a three-acre lot minimum and a 15% open space requirement and nothing else; its height and yards come from Article IVA. A minimum of 15% of the lot must be open space. On any development proposal covering more than three acres in an R1, RD or Fishkill Creek Development district, the lot area PER DWELLING UNIT is calculated on net acreage: surface water, federal regulatory floodway, state or federally regulated wetland, and predevelopment slopes of 25% or steeper all come off the lot area first (§ 223-63).

Light Industrial — Lot area is set twice — an overall minimum and 1,500 sq ft PER DWELLING UNIT — and both bind. Minimum lot width 60 ft and minimum lot DEPTH 100 ft; depth is a separate test from area and width. A minimum of 20% of the lot must be open space. On any development proposal covering more than three acres in an R1, RD or Fishkill Creek Development district, the lot area PER DWELLING UNIT is calculated on net acreage: surface water, federal regulatory floodway, state or federally regulated wetland, and predevelopment slopes of 25% or steeper all come off the lot area first (§ 223-63).

Heavy Industrial — Minimum lot width 60 ft and minimum lot DEPTH 100 ft; depth is a separate test from area and width. A minimum of 20% of the lot must be open space. On any development proposal covering more than three acres in an R1, RD or Fishkill Creek Development district, the lot area PER DWELLING UNIT is calculated on net acreage: surface water, federal regulatory floodway, state or federally regulated wetland, and predevelopment slopes of 25% or steeper all come off the lot area first (§ 223-63).

Short-term rentals

Short-term rentals allowed with local rules. STR permit required for all rentals under 30 days. Primary residence only qualifies. Maximum 100 days per year; no more than 30 consecutive days per booking. Permit valid 2 years. Contact Building Dept at (845) 838-5011 for current requirements.

Good to know

Working out a budget? A standard-finish build here runs $215–$282/sq ft , and a conforming lot adds about $26,630 on top - see the full cost to build a house in Beacon, or what an ADU costs here.

Sizing up a specific parcel in Beacon?

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Other Dutchess County towns

Zoning figures for City of Beacon 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 (845) 838-5011 before relying on any number. Source: Offsite / Aldo zoning dataset, municipalData.js.

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