ADU · Ulster County
Can you build an ADU in Olive, NY?
Town of Olive has 5 districts. All districts allow ADUs with occupancy restrictions. Check your address to confirm the district that applies to your parcel:
What the Olive 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CR Conservation Residential (R/C-10A) | 10 ac | 50 / 100 / 100 ft | 35 ft | Occupancy restricted |
| RR Rural Residential (R/R-3A) | 3 ac | 50 / 50 / 75 ft | 35 ft | Occupancy restricted |
| ER ExUrban Residential (R/E-1A) | 1 ac | 50 / 25 / 50 ft | 35 ft | Occupancy restricted |
| B/V-1/2 Business/Village | 0.5 ac | 50 / 20 / 50 ft | 35 ft | Occupancy restricted |
| B/H-1/2 Business/Highway | 0.5 ac | 50 / 20 / 50 ft | 35 ft | Occupancy restricted |
CR Conservation Residential (R/C-10A) — The schedule's first row is "Lot area per dwelling unit", so the district minimum is the land required by EACH unit, not by the lot. Min lot depth 800 ft. On a street with a right-of-way under 50 ft the front yard is measured from the centre line of the right-of-way with 25 ft added; where the right-of-way is unknown, from the centre line of the existing roadway (schedule note 1). In special permit and site plan review the Planning Board may modify any of these standards by up to 10% in the interest of the public welfare (schedule note 2). That is a discretionary range rather than a published figure, so no per-condition standard is recorded for it. Under § 155-8 the Planning Board may approve an average density subdivision or a conservation subdivision and modify lot area and dimensions on the plat, provided the AVERAGE lot equals or exceeds the district minimum. It sets no floor of its own, so there is no figure to record; it is a Planning Board approval, never available by right (schedule note 3). Every use except a single-family and a two-family home requires Planning Board site plan approval before a zoning permit issues (§ 155-17). Most environmentally sensitive district — includes the Ashokan Reservoir surroundings.
RR Rural Residential (R/R-3A) — The schedule's first row is "Lot area per dwelling unit", so the district minimum is the land required by EACH unit, not by the lot. Min lot depth 400 ft. On a street with a right-of-way under 50 ft the front yard is measured from the centre line of the right-of-way with 25 ft added; where the right-of-way is unknown, from the centre line of the existing roadway (schedule note 1). In special permit and site plan review the Planning Board may modify any of these standards by up to 10% in the interest of the public welfare (schedule note 2). That is a discretionary range rather than a published figure, so no per-condition standard is recorded for it. Under § 155-8 the Planning Board may approve an average density subdivision or a conservation subdivision and modify lot area and dimensions on the plat, provided the AVERAGE lot equals or exceeds the district minimum. It sets no floor of its own, so there is no figure to record; it is a Planning Board approval, never available by right (schedule note 3). Every use except a single-family and a two-family home requires Planning Board site plan approval before a zoning permit issues (§ 155-17).
ER ExUrban Residential (R/E-1A) — The schedule's first row is "Lot area per dwelling unit", so the district minimum is the land required by EACH unit, not by the lot. Min lot depth 150 ft. On a street with a right-of-way under 50 ft the front yard is measured from the centre line of the right-of-way with 25 ft added; where the right-of-way is unknown, from the centre line of the existing roadway (schedule note 1). In special permit and site plan review the Planning Board may modify any of these standards by up to 10% in the interest of the public welfare (schedule note 2). That is a discretionary range rather than a published figure, so no per-condition standard is recorded for it. Under § 155-8 the Planning Board may approve an average density subdivision or a conservation subdivision and modify lot area and dimensions on the plat, provided the AVERAGE lot equals or exceeds the district minimum. It sets no floor of its own, so there is no figure to record; it is a Planning Board approval, never available by right (schedule note 3). Every use except a single-family and a two-family home requires Planning Board site plan approval before a zoning permit issues (§ 155-17). Most common residential district in the Olive hamlets.
B/V-1/2 Business/Village — THE HALF-ACRE IS THE COMMERCIAL FIGURE. Schedule note 4 states that residential and certain other uses in the B/V-1/2 and B/H-1/2 Districts "require larger lot sizes", and points at § 155-16, which adopts the schedules without naming one. The larger residential figure is therefore NOT published where the schedule says it is, and none is recorded here rather than guessed. The schedule's first row is "Lot area per dwelling unit", so the district minimum is the land required by EACH unit, not by the lot. Min lot depth 150 ft. On a street with a right-of-way under 50 ft the front yard is measured from the centre line of the right-of-way with 25 ft added; where the right-of-way is unknown, from the centre line of the existing roadway (schedule note 1). In special permit and site plan review the Planning Board may modify any of these standards by up to 10% in the interest of the public welfare (schedule note 2). That is a discretionary range rather than a published figure, so no per-condition standard is recorded for it. Every use except a single-family and a two-family home requires Planning Board site plan approval before a zoning permit issues (§ 155-17). Village hamlet commercial areas.
B/H-1/2 Business/Highway — THE HALF-ACRE IS THE COMMERCIAL FIGURE. Schedule note 4 states that residential and certain other uses in the B/V-1/2 and B/H-1/2 Districts "require larger lot sizes", and points at § 155-16, which adopts the schedules without naming one. The larger residential figure is therefore NOT published where the schedule says it is, and none is recorded here rather than guessed. The schedule's first row is "Lot area per dwelling unit", so the district minimum is the land required by EACH unit, not by the lot. Min lot depth 150 ft. On a street with a right-of-way under 50 ft the front yard is measured from the centre line of the right-of-way with 25 ft added; where the right-of-way is unknown, from the centre line of the existing roadway (schedule note 1). In special permit and site plan review the Planning Board may modify any of these standards by up to 10% in the interest of the public welfare (schedule note 2). That is a discretionary range rather than a published figure, so no per-condition standard is recorded for it. Every use except a single-family and a two-family home requires Planning Board site plan approval before a zoning permit issues (§ 155-17). Highway-oriented commercial; light industrial by special permit.
ADUs vs. short-term rentals in Olive
Short-term rentals restricted for Town of Olive. STR permit required under Local Law No. 2 of 2022. Non-owner-occupied STRs are limited to 180 nights per calendar year. Permit caps have been in effect — new applications may not be accepted. Confirm current availability with Town of Olive at (845) 657-8282 before purchasing with STR income as a financial assumption. 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 minimum1–10 ac — an ADU still has to fit the district's lot and setback envelope.
- UtilityCentral Hudson territory.
- Zoning codeecode360.com/OL1834
- Building dept(845) 657-8282
- Last reviewed2026-08-16
ADU FAQ — Olive, NY
Are ADUs allowed in Olive, NY?
Town of Olive has 5 districts. All districts allow ADUs with occupancy restrictions. Check your address with the free ADU checker, or confirm with the building department at (845) 657-8282.
Do I need a special permit for an ADU in Olive?
No district in Town of Olive requires a special-use permit for an ADU - 5 districts allow ADUs with occupancy restrictions. Site-plan review or a building permit may still apply.
Can I use an ADU as a short-term rental in Olive?
Short-term rentals restricted for Town of Olive. 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 Olive
Permission is one question and budget is another. An 800 sq ft accessory unit here runs roughly $200k–265k 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 Olive, priced by size.
More on Olive: Full zoning for new construction · ADU build cost · House build cost · All Ulster County towns
ADU information for Town of Olive 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 (845) 657-8282 before relying on any answer. Source: Offsite / Aldo zoning dataset, municipalData.js.