Ulster County
Town of Rochester, NY: zoning for new construction
Thinking about building in the Town of Rochester? Here is what the zoning actually says, pulled straight from the town code. Town of Rochester runs 9 zoning districts, with residential minimum lot sizes ranging from 1 to 5 acres depending on the district. Short-term rentals allowed with registration here. The town has adopted New York's stretch energy code (Local Law No. 3 of 2023), so plan for it. Use the district figures below to size up a parcel before you buy, then confirm the specifics with the building department.
Zoning districts
| District | Min lot | Setbacks F / S / R | Max height | ADU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential Agricultural (AR-3) | 3 ac | — | 35 ft | As of right |
| Agricultural Business (AB-3) | 3 ac | — | 35 ft | As of right |
| Neighborhood Residential (R-1) | 1 ac | — | 35 ft | As of right |
| Low Density Residential (R-2) | 2 ac | — | 35 ft | As of right |
| Rural Conservation (R-5) | 5 ac | — | 35 ft | As of right |
| Hamlet District (H) | 1 ac | — | 35 ft | As of right |
| Industrial District (I) | 1.5 ac | — | 35 ft | No |
| Natural Resource District (NR) | 1.5 ac | — | 35 ft | No |
| Business District (B) | 1 ac | — | 35 ft | As of right |
Short-term rentals
Short-term rentals allowed with registration. STR permit required. Cap on new non-owner-occupied permits — availability limited. A local host (within 30 minutes) is required for non-owner-occupied STRs. No cap on owner-occupied permits. Contact Town of Rochester at (845) 626-7561 to confirm permit availability. Municipal source
Good to know
- Energy codeNew York stretch energy code adopted (Local Law No. 3 of 2023).
- UtilityCentral Hudson territory.
- Zoning codeecode360.com/RO1435
- Building dept(845) 626-7561
- Last reviewedApr 2026
Sizing up a specific parcel in Rochester?
Aldo pulls the exact zoning district, setbacks, and build feasibility for any parcel - before you buy. Run a free zoning report.
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Zoning figures for Town of Rochester are compiled from the municipal code (last reviewed Apr 2026) 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 (845) 626-7561 before relying on any number. Source: Offsite / Aldo zoning dataset, municipalData.js.