ADU · Dutchess County
Can you build an ADU in Fishkill, NY?
Town of Fishkill has 16 districts. 7 of 16 districts allow ADUs with occupancy restrictions. 9 districts have incomplete data - verify with the building department at (845) 831-7800. Check your address to confirm the district that applies to your parcel:
What the Fishkill 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| One-Family Residence 4-Acre | 4 ac | 75 / 50 / 60 ft | 35 ft | Occupancy restricted |
| One-Family Residence 2-Acre | 2 ac | 50 / 40 / 50 ft | 35 ft | Occupancy restricted |
| One-Family Residence 40,000 Square Feet | 0.9183 ac | 50 / 25 / 50 ft | 35 ft | Occupancy restricted |
| One-Family Residence 20,000 Square Feet | 0.4591 ac | 35 / 20 / 40 ft | 35 ft | Occupancy restricted |
| One-Family Residence 15,000 Square Feet | 0.3444 ac | 35 / 15 / 30 ft | 35 ft | Occupancy restricted |
| Multifamily Residence 3 | 15 ac | 50 / 50 / 50 ft | 35 ft | — |
| Multifamily Residence 5 | 10 ac | 50 / 25 / 50 ft | 35 ft | — |
| Beacon Hills | 0.4591 ac | 35 / 20 / 40 ft | 35 ft | — |
| Local Historic Center | 0.2296 ac | 15 / 12 / 25 ft | 35 ft | Occupancy restricted |
| Restricted Business | 5 ac | 100 / 100 / 100 ft | 35 ft | Occupancy restricted |
| Planned Business | 10 ac | 100 / 100 / 100 ft | 35 ft | — |
| Planned Shopping Center | 75 ac | 100 / 100 / 100 ft | 45 ft | — |
| General Business | 0.3444 ac | 25 / 0 / 30 ft | 35 ft | — |
| Planned Industry | 1 ac | 50 / 30 / 30 ft | 45 ft | — |
| Hudson River Waterfront Recreation | — | — | — | — |
| Hudson River | — | — | — | — |
One-Family Residence 4-Acre — The front yard is published in TWO columns and both bind: 100 ft measured from the CENTRE LINE of the street, and 75 ft measured from the front lot line. The figure recorded is the lot-line one; on a narrow right-of-way the centre-line figure is the one that governs. Either way it rises by 10 ft along a state or county road. Lot width and lot depth are separate published requirements, 250 ft and 300 ft, and both must be met. The coverage limit of 5% is maximum BUILDING AND PAVED AREA, not building footprint alone, so parking and driveways count against it. Height is capped at 2 1/2 stories as well as 35 ft. An accessory building not over 15 ft high may stand 10 ft from any rear or side lot line.
One-Family Residence 2-Acre — The front yard is published in TWO columns and both bind: 75 ft measured from the CENTRE LINE of the street, and 50 ft measured from the front lot line. The figure recorded is the lot-line one; on a narrow right-of-way the centre-line figure is the one that governs. Either way it rises by 10 ft along a state or county road. Lot width and lot depth are separate published requirements, 200 ft and 200 ft, and both must be met. The coverage limit of 10% is maximum BUILDING AND PAVED AREA, not building footprint alone, so parking and driveways count against it. Height is capped at 2 1/2 stories as well as 35 ft. An accessory building not over 15 ft high may stand 10 ft from any rear or side lot line.
One-Family Residence 40,000 Square Feet — The front yard is published in TWO columns and both bind: 75 ft measured from the CENTRE LINE of the street, and 50 ft measured from the front lot line. The figure recorded is the lot-line one; on a narrow right-of-way the centre-line figure is the one that governs. Either way it rises by 10 ft along a state or county road. Lot width and lot depth are separate published requirements, 125 ft and 150 ft, and both must be met. The coverage limit of 12% is maximum BUILDING AND PAVED AREA, not building footprint alone, so parking and driveways count against it. Height is capped at 2 1/2 stories as well as 35 ft. An accessory building not over 15 ft high may stand 10 ft from any rear or side lot line.
One-Family Residence 20,000 Square Feet — The front yard is published in TWO columns and both bind: 60 ft measured from the CENTRE LINE of the street, and 35 ft measured from the front lot line. The figure recorded is the lot-line one; on a narrow right-of-way the centre-line figure is the one that governs. Either way it rises by 10 ft along a state or county road. Lot width and lot depth are separate published requirements, 100 ft and 125 ft, and both must be met. The coverage limit of 20% is maximum BUILDING AND PAVED AREA, not building footprint alone, so parking and driveways count against it. Height is capped at 2 1/2 stories as well as 35 ft. An accessory building not over 15 ft high may stand 10 ft from any rear or side lot line.
One-Family Residence 15,000 Square Feet — The front yard is published in TWO columns and both bind: 60 ft measured from the CENTRE LINE of the street, and 35 ft measured from the front lot line. The figure recorded is the lot-line one; on a narrow right-of-way the centre-line figure is the one that governs. Either way it rises by 10 ft along a state or county road. Lot width and lot depth are separate published requirements, 85 ft and 100 ft, and both must be met. The coverage limit of 22% is maximum BUILDING AND PAVED AREA, not building footprint alone, so parking and driveways count against it. Height is capped at 2 1/2 stories as well as 35 ft. An accessory building not over 15 ft high may stand five ft from any rear or side lot line.
Multifamily Residence 3 — Where the rear of a structure faces a side lot line, a rear yard must be provided between them. These yards apply to the perimeter of the overall lot; setbacks internal to it for two-family and multifamily dwellings are set by § 150-73. The front yard is published in TWO columns and both bind: 75 ft measured from the CENTRE LINE of the street, and 50 ft measured from the front lot line. The figure recorded is the lot-line one; on a narrow right-of-way the centre-line figure is the one that governs. Either way it rises by 10 ft along a state or county road. Lot width and lot depth are separate published requirements, 100 ft and 150 ft, and both must be met. The coverage limit of 20% is maximum BUILDING AND PAVED AREA, not building footprint alone, so parking and driveways count against it. Height is capped at 2 1/2 stories as well as 35 ft. An accessory building not over 15 ft high may stand 10 ft from any rear or side lot line.
Multifamily Residence 5 — These yards apply to the perimeter of the overall lot; setbacks internal to it for two-family and multifamily dwellings are set by § 150-73. The front yard is published in TWO columns and both bind: 75 ft measured from the CENTRE LINE of the street, and 50 ft measured from the front lot line. The figure recorded is the lot-line one; on a narrow right-of-way the centre-line figure is the one that governs. Either way it rises by 10 ft along a state or county road. Lot width and lot depth are separate published requirements, 100 ft and 150 ft, and both must be met. The coverage limit of 30% is maximum BUILDING AND PAVED AREA, not building footprint alone, so parking and driveways count against it. Height is capped at 2 1/2 stories as well as 35 ft. An accessory building not over 15 ft high may stand 10 ft from any rear or side lot line.
Beacon Hills — Beacon Hills publishes two complete rows, one for SEASONAL uses and one for nonseasonal, and the base row here is the nonseasonal one. A seasonal use takes 15,000 sq ft rather than 20,000, an 85 ft lot width rather than 100, a 100 ft depth rather than 125, a 15 ft side yard rather than 20, a 30 ft rear yard rather than 40, and 10% coverage rather than 20%. Whether a use is seasonal is not a condition this schedule can be filtered on, so both rows are stated. The front yard is published in TWO columns and both bind: 60 ft measured from the CENTRE LINE of the street, and 35 ft measured from the front lot line. The figure recorded is the lot-line one; on a narrow right-of-way the centre-line figure is the one that governs. Either way it rises by 10 ft along a state or county road. Lot width and lot depth are separate published requirements, 100 ft and 125 ft, and both must be met. The coverage limit of 20% is maximum BUILDING AND PAVED AREA, not building footprint alone, so parking and driveways count against it. Height is capped at 2 1/2 stories as well as 35 ft. An accessory building not over 15 ft high may stand 10 ft from any rear or side lot line.
Local Historic Center — The front yard is published in TWO columns and both bind: 40 ft measured from the CENTRE LINE of the street, and 15 ft measured from the front lot line. The figure recorded is the lot-line one; on a narrow right-of-way the centre-line figure is the one that governs. Either way it rises by 10 ft along a state or county road. Lot width and lot depth are separate published requirements, 60 ft and 80 ft, and both must be met. The coverage limit of 50% is maximum BUILDING AND PAVED AREA, not building footprint alone, so parking and driveways count against it. Height is capped at 2 1/2 stories as well as 35 ft.
Restricted Business — The front yard is published in TWO columns and both bind: 125 ft measured from the CENTRE LINE of the street, and 100 ft measured from the front lot line. The figure recorded is the lot-line one; on a narrow right-of-way the centre-line figure is the one that governs. Either way it rises by 10 ft along a state or county road. Lot width and lot depth are separate published requirements, 300 ft and 300 ft, and both must be met. The coverage limit of 60% is maximum BUILDING AND PAVED AREA, not building footprint alone, so parking and driveways count against it. Height is capped at 2 1/2 stories as well as 35 ft.
Planned Business — The front yard is published in TWO columns and both bind: 125 ft measured from the CENTRE LINE of the street, and 100 ft measured from the front lot line. The figure recorded is the lot-line one; on a narrow right-of-way the centre-line figure is the one that governs. Either way it rises by 10 ft along a state or county road. Lot width and lot depth are separate published requirements, 700 ft and 600 ft, and both must be met. The coverage limit of 75% is maximum BUILDING AND PAVED AREA, not building footprint alone, so parking and driveways count against it. Height is capped at 2 1/2 stories as well as 35 ft.
Planned Shopping Center — The front yard is published in TWO columns and both bind: 125 ft measured from the CENTRE LINE of the street, and 100 ft measured from the front lot line. The figure recorded is the lot-line one; on a narrow right-of-way the centre-line figure is the one that governs. Either way it rises by 10 ft along a state or county road. Lot width and lot depth are separate published requirements, 500 ft and 500 ft, and both must be met. The coverage limit of 70% is maximum BUILDING AND PAVED AREA, not building footprint alone, so parking and driveways count against it. Height is capped at 3 stories as well as 45 ft.
General Business — The schedule prints "None" in the side yard column — an affirmative none required, not a blank. The front yard is published in TWO columns and both bind: 50 ft measured from the CENTRE LINE of the street, and 25 ft measured from the front lot line. The figure recorded is the lot-line one; on a narrow right-of-way the centre-line figure is the one that governs. Either way it rises by 10 ft along a state or county road. Lot width and lot depth are separate published requirements, 75 ft and 150 ft, and both must be met. The coverage limit of 75% is maximum BUILDING AND PAVED AREA, not building footprint alone, so parking and driveways count against it. Height is capped at 2 1/2 stories as well as 35 ft.
Planned Industry — The front yard is published in TWO columns and both bind: 75 ft measured from the CENTRE LINE of the street, and 50 ft measured from the front lot line. The figure recorded is the lot-line one; on a narrow right-of-way the centre-line figure is the one that governs. Either way it rises by 10 ft along a state or county road. Lot width and lot depth are separate published requirements, 150 ft and 150 ft, and both must be met. The coverage limit of 70% is maximum BUILDING AND PAVED AREA, not building footprint alone, so parking and driveways count against it. Height is capped at 3 stories as well as 45 ft.
Hudson River Waterfront Recreation — § 150-8 names HRWRD as one of the Town's districts, but neither Schedule of Regulations publishes a row for it, so no dimensional standard is recorded. Confirm the applicable standards with the Town before relying on this district.
Hudson River — § 150-8 names HRD as one of the Town's districts, but neither Schedule of Regulations publishes a row for it, so no dimensional standard is recorded. Confirm the applicable standards with the Town before relying on this district.
ADUs vs. short-term rentals in Fishkill
No local short-term-rental law on record - which is not the same as permission for Town of Fishkill. No confirmed local STR registration law as of Jun 2026. Dutchess County occupancy tax registration required. Verify with Town of Fishkill Building Dept at (845) 831-7800 for any recent local law changes. 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 minimum0.3444–15 ac — an ADU still has to fit the district's lot and setback envelope.
- UtilityCentral Hudson territory.
- Zoning codeecode360.com/10587983
- Building dept(845) 831-7800
- Last reviewed2026-08-16
ADU FAQ — Fishkill, NY
Are ADUs allowed in Fishkill, NY?
Town of Fishkill has 16 districts. 7 of 16 districts allow ADUs with occupancy restrictions. 9 districts have incomplete data - verify with the building department at (845) 831-7800. Check your address with the free ADU checker.
Do I need a special permit for an ADU in Fishkill?
No district in Town of Fishkill requires a special-use permit for an ADU - 7 districts allow ADUs with occupancy restrictions. Site-plan review or a building permit may still apply.
Can I use an ADU as a short-term rental in Fishkill?
No local short-term-rental law on record - which is not the same as permission for Town of Fishkill. 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 Fishkill
Permission is one question and budget is another. An 800 sq ft accessory unit here runs roughly $210k–275k 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 Fishkill, priced by size.
More on Fishkill: Full zoning for new construction · ADU build cost · House build cost · All Dutchess County towns
ADU information for Town of Fishkill 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 (845) 831-7800 before relying on any answer. Source: Offsite / Aldo zoning dataset, municipalData.js.