Greene County
Town of Catskill, NY: zoning for new construction
The Town of Catskill spreads across seven zoning districts, with residential minimums from a quarter-acre up to 5 acres, and most rural parcels here sit outside public water and sewer - so you're budgeting for a well and septic from the start. Short-term rentals have needed a permit since Local Law 1 of 2022, with a $500 initial fee and a code inspection before you can operate. The town's Rural Residential/Agriculture district starts at 1.5 acres and allows an ADU by right; confirm your district and the septic requirement with the Building Department at (518) 943-2381.
Looking specifically at an accessory dwelling unit? See ADU rules for Catskill →
Zoning districts
| District | Min lot | Setbacks F / S / R | Max height | ADU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rural Residential/Agriculture (no public water or sewer) | 1.5 ac | 50 / 30 / 100 ft | 35 ft | As of right |
| Moderate Density Residential | 0.5 ac | 50 / 30 / 50 ft | 35 ft | As of right |
| High Density Residential | 0.25 ac | 25 / 10 / 30 ft | 35 ft | As of right |
| General Commercial | 0.25 ac | 15 / 10 / 30 ft | 35 ft | As of right |
| Highway Commercial | 0.5 ac | 25 / 25 / 25 ft | — | As of right |
| Industrial | 3 ac | 200 / 100 / 40 ft | — | No |
| Conservation | 5 ac | 100 / 200 / 100 ft | 35 ft | Special permit |
Short-term rentals
Short-term rentals allowed with local rules. Town of Catskill enacted Local Law No. 1-2022 (Chapter 133) on April 20, 2022, requiring all STRs to obtain a permit ($500 initial fee) and pass a code enforcement inspection prior to operating; annual renewal required.
Good to know
- UtilityCentral Hudson territory.
- Building dept(518) 943-2381
- Last reviewed2026-08-16
Working out a budget? A standard-finish build here runs $197–$259/sq ft , and a conforming lot adds about $4,732 on top - see the full cost to build a house in Catskill, or what an ADU costs here.
Sizing up a specific parcel in Catskill?
Aldo pulls the exact zoning district, setbacks, and build feasibility for any parcel — before you buy. Enter your email to open Aldo and run your free report.
Other Greene County towns
All Greene County zoning: Athens · Cairo · Coxsackie · Greenville · Halcott · Jewett · Lexington · New Baltimore · Athens (Village) · Catskill (Village) · Coxsackie (Village) · Hunter (Village) · Tannersville (Village)
Zoning figures for Town of Catskill 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 (518) 943-2381 before relying on any number. Source: Offsite / Aldo zoning dataset, municipalData.js.