Greene County
Town of Athens, NY: zoning for new construction
Thinking about building in the Town of Athens? Here is what the zoning actually says, pulled straight from the town code. Town of Athens runs 13 zoning districts, with residential minimum lot sizes ranging from 0.23 to 5 acres depending on the district. Short-term rentals - see local ordinance here. Use the district figures below to size up a parcel before you buy, then confirm the specifics with the building department.
Zoning districts
| District | Min lot | Setbacks F / S / R | Max height | ADU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rural Residential District | 1.5 ac | — | 35 ft | As of right |
| Rural District | 3 ac | — | 35 ft | As of right |
| Rural District (Moderate Density) | 1 ac | — | 35 ft | As of right |
| Hamlet District | 0.23 ac | — | 25 ft | As of right |
| Mixed Use Commercial District | 1 ac | — | 35 ft | No |
| Light Industrial District 1 | 2 ac | — | 45 ft | No |
| Light Industrial District 2 | 2 ac | — | 45 ft | No |
| Agriculture District | 1 ac | — | 35 ft | As of right |
| Open Space District | 1 ac | — | 35 ft | No |
| Rural Residential / Route 385 Corridor | 3 ac | — | 35 ft | As of right |
| Hudson Lowlands Waterfront District | 5 ac | — | 35 ft | As of right |
| Greenport Lowlands Waterfront District | 5 ac | — | 35 ft | As of right |
| Backlands Waterfront District | 5 ac | — | 35 ft | As of right |
Short-term rentals
Short-term rentals - see local ordinance. Town of Athens enacted Chapter 147 (Short-Term Residential Rentals) in 2017, requiring annual registration with the Town Clerk, code-compliance inspections, and a local contact for out-of-county owners; occupancy limited to 2 persons per unit plus 2 per bedroom.
Good to know
- UtilityCentral Hudson territory.
- Building dept(518) 945-1052
- Last reviewed2026-06-02
Sizing up a specific parcel in Athens?
Aldo pulls the exact zoning district, setbacks, and build feasibility for any parcel - before you buy. Run a free zoning report.
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Zoning figures for Town of Athens are compiled from the municipal code (last reviewed 2026-06-02) 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 (518) 945-1052 before relying on any number. Source: Offsite / Aldo zoning dataset, municipalData.js.