Monroe County
Town of Gates, NY: zoning for new construction
Residential lots in the Town of Gates run from a 0.1837-acre minimum in Single-Family Residence (R-1-8) up to 10 acres in Townhouse Residence District (TH) — floating district, 10-acre minimum tract, across 5 zoning districts in all. Short-term rentals allowed with local rules. Power here is RG&E territory. The district table below has the setbacks, height limits and coverage - confirm the specifics with the building department at (585) 429-8242 before you rely on a figure.
Looking specifically at an accessory dwelling unit? See ADU rules for Gates →
Zoning districts
| District | Min lot | Setbacks F / S / R | Max height | ADU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single-Family Residence (R-1-15) | 0.3444 ac | 35 / 10 / 30 ft | 35 ft | No |
| Single-Family Residence (R-1-11) | 0.2525 ac | 35 / 8 / 30 ft | 35 ft | No |
| Single-Family Residence (R-1-8) | 0.1837 ac | 35 / 7 / 30 ft | 35 ft | No |
| Multiple Residence District (MR) — floating district, rezoning required | 5 ac | 35 / 40 / 40 ft | 35 ft | No |
| Townhouse Residence District (TH) — floating district, 10-acre minimum tract | 10 ac | 35 / 40 / 20 ft | 35 ft | No |
Short-term rentals
Short-term rentals allowed with local rules. Short-term rentals are PERMITTED BUT PERMIT-GATED under Ch. 148 Rental Properties, adopted 8-1-2022 by L.L. No. 3-2022 — a dedicated rental-licensing law separate from the zoning chapter, which is why a search of Ch. 190 alone finds nothing. § 148-7 makes it unlawful to let, lease, rent or permit occupancy of a short-term rental property without first obtaining a short-term rental property permit, and the chapter layers on inspections (§ 148-5) and certificates of compliance (§ 148-6). The definition is unusually BROAD: a short-term rental property is one where a dwelling unit is occupied by someone other than the owner for a period of LESS THAN THREE MONTHS, and it expressly sweeps in vacation rental homes and bed-and-breakfast establishments. A three-month threshold is far longer than the 30-day line most towns draw, so ordinary month-to-month tenancies fall inside this permit regime in Gates. New York State's 2025 STR registry (Ch. 99 of the Laws of 2025) separately requires every host statewide to register. Confirm current permit fees and inspection scheduling with the building department at (585) 429-8242.
Good to know
- UtilityRG&E territory.
- Building dept(585) 429-8242
- Last reviewed2026-08-11
Working out a budget? A standard-finish build here runs $204–$268/sq ft , and a conforming lot adds about $3,215 on top - see the full cost to build a house in Gates, or what an ADU costs here.
Sizing up a specific parcel in Gates?
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 Monroe County towns
All Monroe County zoning: Rochester (City) · Brighton · Chili · Clarkson · Greece · Hamlin · Henrietta · Irondequoit · Mendon · Ogden · Parma · Penfield · Perinton · Pittsford · Riga · Rush · Sweden · Webster · Wheatland · Town/Village of East Rochester (Village) · Brockport (Village) · Churchville (Village) · Fairport (Village) · Hilton (Village) · Honeoye Falls (Village) · Pittsford (Village) · Scottsville (Village) · Spencerport (Village) · Webster (Village)
Zoning figures for Town of Gates are compiled from the municipal code (last reviewed 2026-08-11) 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 (585) 429-8242 before relying on any number. Source: Offsite / Aldo zoning dataset, municipalData.js.