ADU · Ulster County
Can you build an ADU in Rosendale, NY?
Town of Rosendale has 9 districts. 8 districts allow ADUs, 1 does not. Check your address to confirm the district that applies to your parcel:
What the Rosendale 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Residence | 1.5 ac | 50 / 30 / 50 ft | 35 ft | As of right |
| A-1 Trailer | 1.5 ac | 50 / 30 / 50 ft | 35 ft | As of right |
| R-1 Residence | 1 ac | 35 / 20 / 35 ft | 35 ft | As of right |
| R-2 Residence | 1 ac | 35 / 20 / 35 ft | 35 ft | As of right |
| R-2a Residence | 1 ac | 35 / 20 / 35 ft | 35 ft | As of right |
| R-3 Residence | 0.17 ac | 25 / 10 / 25 ft | 35 ft | As of right |
| B-1 General Business | 0.23 ac | 35 / 12.5 / 35 ft | 30 ft | As of right |
| B-2 Business | 0.23 ac | 40 / 25 / 40 ft | 40 ft | As of right |
| I-1 Light Industrial | 0.46 ac | 50 / 25 / 50 ft | 40 ft | No |
A Residence, A-1 Trailer — A and A-1 share one row and it does not vary with utility service. See §§ 75-12 through 75-17 for supplementary regulations governing minimum lot dimensions (schedule note **).
R-1 Residence — R-1 reaches half an acre on both community sewer and water; R-2 and R-2a reach 12,500 sq ft on the same row, so the districts diverge only at the bottom of the ladder. See §§ 75-12 through 75-17 for supplementary regulations governing minimum lot dimensions (schedule note **).
R-2 Residence, R-2a Residence — See §§ 75-12 through 75-17 for supplementary regulations governing minimum lot dimensions (schedule note **).
R-3 Residence — R-3'S ONLY ROW ASSUMES SERVICE. The schedule prints it as "R-3: With S or W only" — the district publishes no standard for a lot with neither community sewer nor community water. That is a disjunction and cannot be stated as a basis, so it is recorded here. Multifamily and two-family DENSITY in R-3, B-1 and B-2 is calculated under § 75-28.D(5), not read off this schedule (note b), and lot area for a mixed-use lot or building under § 75-15 (note c). Neither prints a figure here. See §§ 75-12 through 75-17 for supplementary regulations governing minimum lot dimensions (schedule note **).
B-1 General Business — THE BASE ROW IS "Elsewhere in Town". B-1 has a second row for MAIN STREET in the Hamlet of Rosendale: 5,000 sq ft of lot, 50 ft width, no front and no side yard, 20 ft rear, 40 ft height and 50% coverage. Whether a lot is on Main Street is not a condition axis, so that row is stated here. Note (a) sends residential lot and yard dimensions to the R-2 District — recorded as variants — except on Main Street, where R-3's standards apply instead. Multifamily and two-family DENSITY in R-3, B-1 and B-2 is calculated under § 75-28.D(5), not read off this schedule (note b), and lot area for a mixed-use lot or building under § 75-15 (note c). Neither prints a figure here. See §§ 75-12 through 75-17 for supplementary regulations governing minimum lot dimensions (schedule note **).
B-2 Business — Note (a) sends residential lot and yard dimensions in B-2 to the R-2 District, recorded here as variants. Multifamily and two-family DENSITY in R-3, B-1 and B-2 is calculated under § 75-28.D(5), not read off this schedule (note b), and lot area for a mixed-use lot or building under § 75-15 (note c). Neither prints a figure here. See §§ 75-12 through 75-17 for supplementary regulations governing minimum lot dimensions (schedule note **).
I-1 Light Industrial — The schedule prints "Not permitted" in I-1's area-per-dwelling-unit column: no residential density is published for this district at all. See §§ 75-12 through 75-17 for supplementary regulations governing minimum lot dimensions (schedule note **).
ADUs vs. short-term rentals in Rosendale
Short-term rentals allowed with registration for Town of Rosendale. Short-term transient rental permit required under Local Law No. 5 of 2024. Permitted as an accessory use in residential zones (A, A-1, B-1, B-2, R-1, R-2, R-2a, R-3) upon receipt of a permit. Contact Town of Rosendale at (845) 658-3159 for current fee and application. 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 minimum0.17–1.5 ac — an ADU still has to fit the district's lot and setback envelope.
- UtilityCentral Hudson territory.
- Zoning codeecode360.com/RO0511
- Building dept(845) 658-3159
- Last reviewedApr 2026
ADU FAQ — Rosendale, NY
Are ADUs allowed in Rosendale, NY?
Town of Rosendale has 9 districts. 8 districts allow ADUs, 1 does not. Check your address with the free ADU checker, or confirm with the building department at (845) 658-3159.
Do I need a special permit for an ADU in Rosendale?
No district in Town of Rosendale requires a special-use permit for an ADU - 8 districts allow ADUs, 1 does not. Site-plan review or a building permit may still apply.
Can I use an ADU as a short-term rental in Rosendale?
Short-term rentals allowed with registration for Town of Rosendale. 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 Rosendale
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 Rosendale, priced by size.
More on Rosendale: Full zoning for new construction · ADU build cost · House build cost · All Ulster County towns
ADU information for Town of Rosendale is compiled from the municipal code (last reviewed Apr 2026) 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) 658-3159 before relying on any answer. Source: Offsite / Aldo zoning dataset, municipalData.js.