Greene County
Village of Athens, NY: zoning for new construction
Residential lots in the Village of Athens run from a 0.32-acre minimum in Residential Medium-Density District up to 3 acres in Recreational Residential District, across 8 zoning districts in all. Short-term rentals allowed with local rules. Power here is Central Hudson territory. The district table below has the setbacks, height limits and coverage - confirm the specifics with the building department at (518) 945-0601 before you rely on a figure.
Looking specifically at an accessory dwelling unit? See ADU rules for Athens →
Zoning districts
| District | Min lot | Setbacks F / S / R | Max height | ADU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open Space Conservation District | — | — | 25 ft | No |
| Residential Low-Density District | 3 ac | 20 / 20 / 20 ft | 30 ft | Special permit |
| Recreational Residential District | 3 ac | 20 / 10 / 20 ft | 30 ft | Special permit |
| Residential Medium-Density District | 0.32 ac | 20 / 10 / 20 ft | 30 ft | Special permit |
| Commercial Residential District | — | — | 35 ft | No |
| Commercial District | 0.46 ac | - / 15 / 15 ft | 35 ft | No |
| Mixed Use Waterfront District | 0.46 ac | 25 / 25 / 25 ft | 35 ft | No |
| Waterfront District | 0.32 ac | 10 / 25 / 25 ft | 25 ft | No |
Short-term rentals
Short-term rentals allowed with local rules. Village of Athens adopted Local Law No. 3-2020 (April 8, 2020), requiring annual STR permits renewable by January 31 each year; permits are non-transferable and expire upon change of ownership; STRs allowed in all zoning districts subject to registration.
Good to know
- UtilityCentral Hudson territory.
- Building dept(518) 945-0601
- Last reviewed2026-08-16
Working out a budget? A standard-finish build here runs $197–$259/sq ft , and a conforming lot adds about $9,707 on top - see the full cost to build a house in Athens, or what an ADU costs here.
Sizing up a specific parcel in Athens?
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 · Catskill · Coxsackie · Greenville · Halcott · Jewett · Lexington · New Baltimore · Catskill (Village) · Coxsackie (Village) · Hunter (Village) · Tannersville (Village)
Zoning figures for Village of Athens 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) 945-0601 before relying on any number. Source: Offsite / Aldo zoning dataset, municipalData.js.