ADU · Rensselaer County
Can you build an ADU in East Nassau, NY?
Village of East Nassau has 3 districts. All districts allow ADUs. Check your address to confirm the district that applies to your parcel:
What the East Nassau 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rural Residential District | 2 ac | 75 / 50 / 75 ft | — | As of right |
| Hamlet District | 2 ac | 25 / 25 / 25 ft | — | As of right |
| Waterfront Residential District | 2 ac | 50 / 50 / 50 ft | — | As of right |
ADUs vs. short-term rentals in East Nassau
Short-term rentals allowed with local rules for Village of East Nassau. The Village's code is published at villageofeastnassau.gov: the 51-page Zoning Law is Local Law No. 1 of 2019, and the Local Laws page carries the full index through Local Law No. 1 of 2025 (Accessory Dwelling Units). Read in full 2026-08-27. THE GOVERNING PROVISION IS THE LODGING USE. Article on Definitions: 'LODGING: Any use of a building, in whole or in part, for the temporary overnight accommodations of guests or visitors for compensation or other consideration. Said term includes, but is not limited to, the following uses: hotel, motel, bed and breakfast, group home, boarding, lodging, or rooming house, AND THE RENTAL OF PRIVATE DWELLINGS, or portions thereof, or residential accessory buildings.' That last clause names whole-house and partial short-term renting outright — there is no need to argue by analogy. IN THE DISTRICT SCHEDULE OF USE REGULATIONS, 'Lodging' RUNS X* / X* / NP across the Village's three districts — Hamlet, Rural Residential and Waterfront Residential. READ THE LEGEND: here 'X designates a special permit use within the land use district — the use is not allowed until a special use permit is issued', '*' means site plan review is also required, and 'NP designates use prohibited by law within the land use district.' So a short-term rental in the Hamlet or Rural Residential district requires BOTH a special use permit and site plan approval, and IN THE WATERFRONT RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT IT IS PROHIBITED OUTRIGHT — a variance under Article X is the only route there. The Village uses the same X-means-special-permit convention as the surrounding Town of Nassau and as Castleton-on-Hudson; a reader carrying the more common meaning of X across would get this backwards. The schedule is also closed: 'Any use not specifically listed below is prohibited.' There is no separate short-term-rental permit, registration, occupancy cap, fee schedule or licence in the Village code — the entire regime is the special-permit and site-plan process for a Lodging use, which means the standards applied are the Village Board's site plan review standards rather than any STR-specific ones. Note the Village publishes at villageofeastnassau.gov; the .org address is a stale site that only redirects. Separately, New York State's 2025 STR registry requires every host statewide to register the unit through the Rensselaer County registry regardless of what the municipality allows. Confirm with the building department at (518) 794-0289 before listing. 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 minimum2 ac — an ADU still has to fit the district's lot and setback envelope.
- UtilityNational Grid territory.
- Building dept(518) 794-0289
- Last reviewed2026-08-05
ADU FAQ — East Nassau, NY
Are ADUs allowed in East Nassau, NY?
Village of East Nassau has 3 districts. All districts allow ADUs. Check your address with the free ADU checker, or confirm with the building department at (518) 794-0289.
Do I need a special permit for an ADU in East Nassau?
No district in Village of East Nassau requires a special-use permit for an ADU - 3 districts allow ADUs. Site-plan review or a building permit may still apply.
Can I use an ADU as a short-term rental in East Nassau?
Short-term rentals allowed with local rules for Village of East Nassau. 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 East Nassau
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 East Nassau, priced by size.
More on East Nassau: Full zoning for new construction · ADU build cost · House build cost · All Rensselaer County towns
ADU information for Village of East Nassau is compiled from the municipal code (last reviewed 2026-08-05) 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) 794-0289 before relying on any answer. Source: Offsite / Aldo zoning dataset, municipalData.js.