ADU · Dutchess County
Can you build an ADU in Red Hook, NY?
Village of Red Hook has 6 districts. 3 districts allow ADUs, 2 do not. 1 district has incomplete data - verify with the building department at (845) 758-4613. Check your address to confirm the district that applies to your parcel:
What the Red Hook 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 20,000 Square Feet | 0.4591 ac | 30 / 15 / 25 ft | 35 ft | As of right |
| Residential 10,000 Square Feet | 0.2296 ac | 30 / 15 / 25 ft | 35 ft | As of right |
| General Business | — | 0 / - / - ft | 45 ft | No |
| Gateway Business | 0.4591 ac | 0 / 7 / 35 ft | 45 ft | No |
| Neighborhood Mixed Use | 0.2296 ac | 0 / - / - ft | 35 ft | As of right |
| Light Industry Business | — | — | — | — |
Residential 20,000 Square Feet — The front yard is two measurements and the greater governs: 30 ft from the street line or 55 ft from the CENTRE LINE of the street. Buildings should conform to the existing line of sight where possible. Minimum lot width is 100 ft at the front building line on an interior lot and 125 ft on a corner lot. The 20,000 sq ft is lot area PER DWELLING UNIT. On a corner lot both yards abutting streets are front yards; there is then one rear yard of at least 25 ft and one side yard of at least 10 ft. A shed or accessory building of no more than one storey may come within 5 ft of a side or rear lot line, but an accessory structure containing an accessory dwelling takes the full district setbacks. Height is capped at 2 1/2 stories as well as 35 ft.
Residential 10,000 Square Feet — The front yard is two measurements and the greater governs: 30 ft from the street line or 55 ft from the CENTRE LINE of the street. Buildings should conform to the existing line of sight where possible. The corner-lot width is 125 ft for a lot served by a central sewer. The 10,000 sq ft is lot area PER DWELLING UNIT. On a corner lot both yards abutting streets are front yards; there is then one rear yard of at least 25 ft and one side yard of at least 10 ft. A shed or accessory building of no more than one storey may come within 5 ft of a side or rear lot line, but an accessory structure containing an accessory dwelling takes the full district setbacks. Height is capped at 2 1/2 stories as well as 35 ft.
General Business — General Business has NO MINIMUM SETBACK, and that is a deliberate rule rather than a gap: a new structure must sit as close to the street line as practical, leaving room for sidewalks, lighting and street trees. Where its setback would differ markedly from an adjacent building the Planning Board may increase it to keep a continuous streetscape, but never beyond the adjacent building's own setback and never far enough to allow parking in the front yard. The section publishes no lot area minimum and no numeric side or rear yard. A building on a lot abutting a nonbusiness district must meet that district's side or rear yard requirement on the abutting side, so the governing figure depends on the neighbour. Corner lots follow § 200-32. Height is capped at 3 1/2 stories as well as 45 ft, and the Planning Board may waive it for church spires, antennas, civic buildings and monuments.
Gateway Business — The front yard is a BUILD-TO LINE, not a setback: it must conform to the build-to line of adjacent properties or the average of adjacent structures, must leave room for a planting strip or sidewalk as the Planning Board requires, and may in no event exceed 15 ft. Minimum lot frontage on an interior lot is 50 ft. The side yard is a combined 20 ft with the narrower no less than 1/3 of the total, which is where the 7 ft single-side figure comes from. A property abutting a residential use in a residential district must provide a buffer along the property line. Height is capped at three stories as well as 45 ft, whichever is less.
Neighborhood Mixed Use — The front yard is a BUILD-TO LINE conforming first to the front setbacks of the adjacent buildings on the street, with enough room for a planting strip, street trees, lighting and sidewalks; commercial and mixed-use properties must match the adjacent setbacks or their average to keep a unified line of facades. Any single structure is capped at 2,000 sq ft of FOOTPRINT and 4,000 sq ft of gross floor space; two mixed-use structures on one lot, each within those limits, may be joined by a connector of no more than 500 sq ft of footprint and 1,000 sq ft of floor space. A building on a lot abutting a nonbusiness district must meet that district's side or rear yard requirement on the abutting side, so the governing figure depends on the neighbour. Corner lots follow § 200-32. Height is capped at 2 1/2 stories as well as 35 ft.
Light Industry Business — The Light Industry Business District publishes no dimensional standards at all. § 200-14 instead freezes what is there: no change may be made in the existing lot dimension, yard, height, coverage or bulk without the approval of the Board of Appeals. Nothing is recorded because there is no standing figure to record; a proposal is measured against what already exists on the lot.
ADUs vs. short-term rentals in Red Hook
No local short-term-rental law on record - which is not the same as permission for Village of Red Hook. No local STR registration law as of Jun 2026 (note: Town of Red Hook has a separate permit requirement that does not apply within the Village). Dutchess County occupancy tax registration required. Verify with Village of Red Hook Village Clerk at (845) 758-4613 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 minimum0.2296–0.4591 ac — an ADU still has to fit the district's lot and setback envelope.
- UtilityCentral Hudson territory.
- Zoning codeecode360.com/15547781
- Building dept(845) 758-4613
- Last reviewed2026-08-16
ADU FAQ — Red Hook, NY
Are ADUs allowed in Red Hook, NY?
Village of Red Hook has 6 districts. 3 districts allow ADUs, 2 do not. 1 district has incomplete data - verify with the building department at (845) 758-4613. Check your address with the free ADU checker.
Do I need a special permit for an ADU in Red Hook?
No district in Village of Red Hook requires a special-use permit for an ADU - 3 districts allow ADUs, 2 do not. Site-plan review or a building permit may still apply.
Can I use an ADU as a short-term rental in Red Hook?
No local short-term-rental law on record - which is not the same as permission for Village of Red Hook. 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 Red Hook
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 Red Hook, priced by size.
More on Red Hook: Full zoning for new construction · ADU build cost · House build cost · All Dutchess County towns
ADU information for Village of Red Hook 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) 758-4613 before relying on any answer. Source: Offsite / Aldo zoning dataset, municipalData.js.