ADU · Rensselaer County
Can you build an ADU in Stephentown, NY?
Town of Stephentown has 4 districts. All districts prohibit ADUs. Check your address to confirm the district that applies to your parcel:
What the Stephentown 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential | 1 ac | 50 / 25 / 25 ft | 35 ft | No |
| Commercial | 2 ac | 50 / 25 / 25 ft | 35 ft | No |
| Industrial | 10 ac | 100 / 100 / 100 ft | 35 ft | No |
| Rural Use | 1 ac | 50 / 25 / 25 ft | 35 ft | No |
ADUs vs. short-term rentals in Stephentown
No local short-term-rental law on record - which is not the same as permission for Town of Stephentown. No local short-term-rental law found as of 2026-08-26; the Land Use Regulations (Local Law No. 1 of 2014, as amended) were read in full and define no short-term rental. BUT THE USE TABLE CARRIES THE CLOSEST THING AND IT IS PERMISSIVE: 'Bed and Breakfast or Tourist Home' is a listed commercial use, permitted with conditions (P*) in R-1, permitted outright (P) in the Commercial, Industrial and Rural districts, and excluded (X) only in Environmentally Fragile. A TOURIST HOME is defined as 'a building where, for compensation, lodging, meals or both are provided or offered for transient guests' — with NO owner-occupancy or owner-present requirement anywhere in the definition, which is what makes it broader than the bed-and-breakfast it is paired with. Whether the Town reads a whole-house short-term rental as a tourist home is the question to put to it, and it is the question that decides the parcel. Absence of a dedicated STR law is not itself permission. New York State's 2025 short-term rental registry (Ch. 99 of the Laws of 2025) separately requires every host statewide to register the unit regardless of local law. Confirm with Town of Stephentown at (518) 733-9195 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.
Good to know
- Residential lot minimum1 ac — an ADU still has to fit the district's lot and setback envelope.
- UtilityNational Grid territory.
- Building dept(518) 733-9195
- Last reviewed2026-08-05
ADU FAQ — Stephentown, NY
Are ADUs allowed in Stephentown, NY?
Town of Stephentown has 4 districts. All districts prohibit ADUs. Check your address with the free ADU checker, or confirm with the building department at (518) 733-9195.
Do I need a special permit for an ADU in Stephentown?
No. No district in Town of Stephentown permits an ADU, so there is no permit to apply for. Codes change, so verify with the building department at (518) 733-9195 before ruling it out.
Can I use an ADU as a short-term rental in Stephentown?
No local short-term-rental law on record - which is not the same as permission for Town of Stephentown. 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 Stephentown
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 Stephentown, priced by size.
More on Stephentown: Full zoning for new construction · ADU build cost · House build cost · All Rensselaer County towns
ADU information for Town of Stephentown 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) 733-9195 before relying on any answer. Source: Offsite / Aldo zoning dataset, municipalData.js.