ADU · Erie County
Can you build an ADU in Lancaster, NY?
Town of Lancaster has 8 districts. All districts prohibit ADUs. Check your address to confirm the district that applies to your parcel:
What the Lancaster 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-Residential | 3 ac | 50 / 10 / 50 ft | 35 ft | No |
| Single-Family Residential | 0.344 ac | 35 / 10 / 35 ft | 35 ft | No |
| Multifamily Residential | 0.069 ac | 35 / 40 / 40 ft | 35 ft | No |
| Mixed Use | 1 ac | 45 / - / - ft | 35 ft | No |
| Light Commercial | 1 ac | 45 / - / - ft | 35 ft | No |
| General Commercial | 1 ac | 60 / - / - ft | 35 ft | No |
| Light Industrial | 1 ac | 30 / - / - ft | 65 ft | No |
| General Industrial | 1 ac | 40 / - / - ft | 65 ft | No |
ADUs vs. short-term rentals in Lancaster
Short-term-rental status not confirmed for Town of Lancaster. A short-term rental law is IN PROGRESS but not confirmed adopted. The Town Board's 8-17-2026 agenda carries 'Local Law: Short Term Rentals' with the Town as SEQRA lead agency and a resolution to rescind an earlier one, so the terms were still moving as of that date. Separately and already in force, Local Law No. 4-2026, adopted 5-18-2026, extends the Town occupancy tax to short-term rental facilities — that is a TAX and not a land-use permission, and it neither authorises nor forbids the use. Ask the Building Department whether the local law has since been adopted. New York State's 2025 short-term rental registry (Ch. 99 of the Laws of 2025) separately requires every host statewide to register the unit regardless of local law. Confirm with Town of Lancaster at (716) 683-9028 before listing. 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 minimum0.069–3 ac — an ADU still has to fit the district's lot and setback envelope.
- UtilityNational Grid territory.
- Building dept(716) 683-9028
- Last reviewed2026-08-06
ADU FAQ — Lancaster, NY
Are ADUs allowed in Lancaster, NY?
Town of Lancaster has 8 districts. All districts prohibit ADUs. Check your address with the free ADU checker, or confirm with the building department at (716) 683-9028.
Do I need a special permit for an ADU in Lancaster?
No. No district in Town of Lancaster permits an ADU, so there is no permit to apply for. Codes change, so verify with the building department at (716) 683-9028 before ruling it out.
Can I use an ADU as a short-term rental in Lancaster?
Short-term-rental status not confirmed for Town of Lancaster. 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 Lancaster
Permission is one question and budget is another. An 800 sq ft accessory unit here runs roughly $200k–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 Lancaster, priced by size.
More on Lancaster: Full zoning for new construction · ADU build cost · House build cost · All Erie County towns
ADU information for Town of Lancaster is compiled from the municipal code (last reviewed 2026-08-06) 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 (716) 683-9028 before relying on any answer. Source: Offsite / Aldo zoning dataset, municipalData.js.