ADU · Ulster County
Can you build an ADU in Saugerties, NY?
Town of Saugerties has 9 districts. 8 districts allow ADUs, 1 does not. Check your address to confirm the district that applies to your parcel:
What the Saugerties 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low-Density Residential (LDR) | 2 ac | 50 / 30 / 50 ft | 35 ft | As of right |
| Moderate-Density Residential (MDR) | 1 ac | 30 / 25 / 40 ft | 35 ft | As of right |
| High-Density Residential (HDR) | 1 ac | 30 / 25 / 40 ft | 35 ft | As of right |
| Residential Hamlet (R-H) | 1 ac | 30 / 25 / 40 ft | 35 ft | As of right |
| General Business (GB) | 0.4591 ac | 25 / 15 / 50 ft | 60 ft | As of right |
| Highway Business (HB) | 1 ac | 40 / 20 / 50 ft | 30 ft | As of right |
| Industrial (I) | 2 ac | 40 / 30 / 50 ft | 60 ft | No |
| Office/Light Industrial (OLI) | 2 ac | 40 / 40 / 50 ft | 40 ft | As of right |
| Recreational Business (RB) | 2 ac | 40 / 30 / 50 ft | 35 ft | As of right |
Low-Density Residential (LDR) — One row for the district — LDR does not vary with utility service.
Moderate-Density Residential (MDR) — One row for the district — MDR does not vary with utility service.
High-Density Residential (HDR) — The base row is a one- or two-family dwelling with no central utilities. Multifamily density is set PER BEDROOM, not per unit: 13,000 sq ft per bedroom with no central utilities, 6,500 with central sewer or water, 3,250 with both. Bedroom count has no term in the condition vocabulary, so the per-bedroom figure is stated here and only the lot, yard, height and coverage standards are recorded as variants.
Residential Hamlet (R-H) — R-H reprints nothing: residential follows the HDR District and nonresidential the GB District. The base row is a one- or two-family dwelling with no central utilities. Multifamily density is set PER BEDROOM, not per unit: 13,000 sq ft per bedroom with no central utilities, 6,500 with central sewer or water, 3,250 with both. Bedroom count has no term in the condition vocabulary, so the per-bedroom figure is stated here and only the lot, yard, height and coverage standards are recorded as variants.
General Business (GB) — The base row is the nonresidential standard; residential in GB follows the HDR District outright, so every residential case is stated as a variant. Multifamily density is set PER BEDROOM, not per unit: 13,000 sq ft per bedroom with no central utilities, 6,500 with central sewer or water, 3,250 with both. Bedroom count has no term in the condition vocabulary, so the per-bedroom figure is stated here and only the lot, yard, height and coverage standards are recorded as variants.
Highway Business (HB) — One row for the district. HDR nonresidential uses are held to these standards too.
Industrial (I), Office/Light Industrial (OLI) — One row for the district.
Recreational Business (RB) — One row for the district. Subject to site plan review.
ADUs vs. short-term rentals in Saugerties
Short-term rentals allowed with registration for Town of Saugerties. Operating permit required from Town of Saugerties Building Department under Local Law No. 2 of 2022 (Chapter 194). Initial application fee $250. Must also register with Ulster County for occupancy tax. Contact Building Dept at (845) 246-2800. 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 minimum1–2 ac — an ADU still has to fit the district's lot and setback envelope.
- UtilityCentral Hudson territory.
- Zoning codeecode360.com/SA2874
- Building dept(845) 246-2800
- Last reviewed2026-08-16
ADU FAQ — Saugerties, NY
Are ADUs allowed in Saugerties, NY?
Town of Saugerties 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) 246-2800.
Do I need a special permit for an ADU in Saugerties?
No district in Town of Saugerties 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 Saugerties?
Short-term rentals allowed with registration for Town of Saugerties. 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 Saugerties
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 Saugerties, priced by size.
More on Saugerties: Full zoning for new construction · ADU build cost · House build cost · All Ulster County towns
ADU information for Town of Saugerties 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) 246-2800 before relying on any answer. Source: Offsite / Aldo zoning dataset, municipalData.js.