ADU · Greene County
Can you build an ADU in Catskill, NY?
Village of Catskill has 7 districts. 4 districts prohibit ADUs, 3 allow them with occupancy restrictions. Check your address to confirm the district that applies to your parcel:
What the Catskill 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single-Family Residential (w/ public water) | 0.17 ac | 30 / 5 / 30 ft | 42 ft | Occupancy restricted |
| Multi-Family Residential (w/ public sewer) | 0.14 ac | 25 / 5 / 30 ft | 42 ft | Occupancy restricted |
| Planned Residential | 0.14 ac | - / 5 / - ft | 42 ft | Occupancy restricted |
| Neighborhood Commercial | 0.46 ac | 30 / 10 / 30 ft | 42 ft | No |
| General Commercial | — | 30 / 10 / 30 ft | 42 ft | No |
| Commercial Core | — | — | 42 ft | No |
| Waterfront Development | 0.17 ac | 15 / 5 / 35 ft | 35 ft | No |
ADUs vs. short-term rentals in Catskill
Short-term rentals allowed with local rules for Village of Catskill. Catskill requires a revocable short-term rental permit under § 4.15 of the Village Zoning Regulations. CORRECTION TO THE EARLIER NOTE: THE PERMIT IS TRANSFERABLE. THE REST OF THE REGIME. A permit must be obtained before the unit is used as an STR; existing STRs had thirty days to comply. The Code Enforcement Officer inspects for Village and State Code compliance and the unit may not operate unless fully compliant. The permit runs one calendar year and EXPIRES ON DECEMBER 31 regardless of when issued. THE CEO INSPECTS ANNUALLY IN ANY EVENT. MAXIMUM OCCUPANCY is two persons per sleeping room plus two, where a sleeping room is fully enclosed habitable space of at least 70 sq ft for one person and 100 sq ft for two with an emergency escape opening. Off-street parking must accommodate the maximum occupancy under § 4.6; guests may not park on the lawn or the street. Weekly garbage removal during rental periods, covered containers, a visible house number. The CEO has 60 days to decide and may refuse where any owner had a permit revoked within the previous year. THE PERMIT ITSELF MUST STATE the owners and a primary contact reachable by phone at all times and able to reach the property BY AUTOMOBILE WITHIN ONE HOUR while occupied, the occupancy and vehicle limits, parking locations, and that littering is illegal, no outdoor fires are allowed, no tents may be used as overnight quarters, guests' pets must be leashed and stay on the parcel, and no noise beyond conversation between 10 P.M. and 9 A.M. It must be displayed inside near the front entrance. No commercial events without separate compliance with the Village's event-venue regulations. The zoning schedule is closed ('Any use not specifically listed shall be deemed to be prohibited') and the Table of Uses could not be read district-by-district from the scan — but § 4.2 exempts short-term rentals in the C-1 and C-2 zones from site plan review, and § 3.3.4 lists short-term rentals among the waterfront incentive uses subject to site plan review, so both district availability and the site-plan trigger need confirming for a specific parcel. SEPARATELY, GREENE COUNTY OPERATES A FREE SHORT-TERM-RENTAL REGISTRATION through its Customer Portal, and New York State now collects sales tax on short-term rental transactions — register with the County as well as the Village (str@greenecountyny.gov, (518) 943-3223). Confirm with the Village at (518) 943-6564. 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. Municipal source
Good to know
- Residential lot minimum0.14–0.17 ac — an ADU still has to fit the district's lot and setback envelope.
- UtilityCentral Hudson territory.
- Building dept(518) 943-6564
- Last reviewed2026-08-16
ADU FAQ — Catskill, NY
Are ADUs allowed in Catskill, NY?
Village of Catskill has 7 districts. 4 districts prohibit ADUs, 3 allow them with occupancy restrictions. Check your address with the free ADU checker, or confirm with the building department at (518) 943-6564.
Do I need a special permit for an ADU in Catskill?
No district in Village of Catskill requires a special-use permit for an ADU - 4 districts prohibit ADUs, 3 allow them with occupancy restrictions. Site-plan review or a building permit may still apply.
Can I use an ADU as a short-term rental in Catskill?
Short-term rentals allowed with local rules for Village of Catskill. 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 Catskill
Permission is one question and budget is another. An 800 sq ft accessory unit here runs roughly $195k–255k 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 Catskill, priced by size.
More on Catskill: Full zoning for new construction · ADU build cost · House build cost · All Greene County towns
ADU information for Village of Catskill 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 (518) 943-6564 before relying on any answer. Source: Offsite / Aldo zoning dataset, municipalData.js.