ADU · Ulster County
Can you build an ADU in Shandaken, NY?
Town of Shandaken has 8 districts. 6 districts allow ADUs with a special-use permit, 2 do not. Check your address to confirm the district that applies to your parcel:
What the Shandaken 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 (R5) | 5 ac | 75 / 75 / 75 ft | 35 ft | Special permit |
| Residential (R3) | 3 ac | 60 / 50 / 60 ft | 35 ft | Special permit |
| Residential (R1.5) | 1.5 ac | 50 / 25 / 50 ft | 35 ft | Special permit |
| Hamlet Residential (HR) | 1 ac | 40 / 25 / 40 ft | 35 ft | Special permit |
| Hamlet Commercial (HC) | 0.34 ac | 25 / 10 / 25 ft | 35 ft | Special permit |
| Highway Business (HB) | 1.5 ac | 60 / 40 / 60 ft | 35 ft | Special permit |
| Commercial/Light Industrial (CLI) | 2 ac | 75 / 50 / 75 ft | 35 ft | No |
| Floodway (FW) | — | — | — | No |
Residential (R5) — Min open space 80%. Minimum front yard is 100 ft in EVERY district where the premises front on NYS Route 28, though the Planning Board may allow the district figure where the development lies within 200 ft of existing structures set back less than 100 ft (schedule note b). No more than 25% of the required minimum lot area may be NYSDEC wetland or FEMA 100-year floodplain (§ 116-21, schedule note a). The minimum lot area per single-family dwelling unit also governs authorised commercial premises, except where § 116-40 states a greater acreage for a special permit use (schedule note 2).
Residential (R3) — Min open space 70%. Minimum front yard is 100 ft in EVERY district where the premises front on NYS Route 28, though the Planning Board may allow the district figure where the development lies within 200 ft of existing structures set back less than 100 ft (schedule note b). No more than 25% of the required minimum lot area may be NYSDEC wetland or FEMA 100-year floodplain (§ 116-21, schedule note a). The minimum lot area per single-family dwelling unit also governs authorised commercial premises, except where § 116-40 states a greater acreage for a special permit use (schedule note 2).
Residential (R1.5) — Min open space 60%. Minimum front yard is 100 ft in EVERY district where the premises front on NYS Route 28, though the Planning Board may allow the district figure where the development lies within 200 ft of existing structures set back less than 100 ft (schedule note b). No more than 25% of the required minimum lot area may be NYSDEC wetland or FEMA 100-year floodplain (§ 116-21, schedule note a). The minimum lot area per single-family dwelling unit also governs authorised commercial premises, except where § 116-40 states a greater acreage for a special permit use (schedule note 2).
Hamlet Residential (HR) — Min open space 60%, 40% with central water and municipal sewer. Schedule note 3 requires NO increase in minimum lot area for a two-family dwelling in HR. Minimum front yard is 100 ft in EVERY district where the premises front on NYS Route 28, though the Planning Board may allow the district figure where the development lies within 200 ft of existing structures set back less than 100 ft (schedule note b). No more than 25% of the required minimum lot area may be NYSDEC wetland or FEMA 100-year floodplain (§ 116-21, schedule note a). The minimum lot area per single-family dwelling unit also governs authorised commercial premises, except where § 116-40 states a greater acreage for a special permit use (schedule note 2).
Hamlet Commercial (HC) — THE BASE ROW IS THE MOST PERMISSIVE CASE. HC is the one district whose schedule entry starts with utilities: 15,000 sq ft applies only WITH municipal water AND municipal sewer. With only one of the two the schedule requires 25,000 sq ft, 120 ft of lot width, and yards of 30 ft front, 20 ft side and 35 ft rear, at 20% coverage and 35% open space. That row is a disjunction — exactly one utility — which the conjunctive condition vocabulary cannot state without contradicting this base, so it is recorded here rather than as a variant. The schedule publishes NO standard for an HC lot with neither utility. Min open space 30%. Minimum front yard is 100 ft in EVERY district where the premises front on NYS Route 28, though the Planning Board may allow the district figure where the development lies within 200 ft of existing structures set back less than 100 ft (schedule note b). No more than 25% of the required minimum lot area may be NYSDEC wetland or FEMA 100-year floodplain (§ 116-21, schedule note a). The minimum lot area per single-family dwelling unit also governs authorised commercial premises, except where § 116-40 states a greater acreage for a special permit use (schedule note 2).
Highway Business (HB) — Min open space 40%. Minimum front yard is 100 ft in EVERY district where the premises front on NYS Route 28, though the Planning Board may allow the district figure where the development lies within 200 ft of existing structures set back less than 100 ft (schedule note b). No more than 25% of the required minimum lot area may be NYSDEC wetland or FEMA 100-year floodplain (§ 116-21, schedule note a). The minimum lot area per single-family dwelling unit also governs authorised commercial premises, except where § 116-40 states a greater acreage for a special permit use (schedule note 2).
Commercial/Light Industrial (CLI) — Min open space 40%. Minimum front yard is 100 ft in EVERY district where the premises front on NYS Route 28, though the Planning Board may allow the district figure where the development lies within 200 ft of existing structures set back less than 100 ft (schedule note b). No more than 25% of the required minimum lot area may be NYSDEC wetland or FEMA 100-year floodplain (§ 116-21, schedule note a). The minimum lot area per single-family dwelling unit also governs authorised commercial premises, except where § 116-40 states a greater acreage for a special permit use (schedule note 2). Light industrial permitted by special permit.
Floodway (FW) — No development permitted in the Floodway District (116 Attachment 1).
ADUs vs. short-term rentals in Shandaken
Short-term rentals allowed with registration for Town of Shandaken. STR permit required (2022). Non-resident (non-owner-occupied) permits are capped at 150 total — new investors may face a waitlist. No cap on owner-occupied permits. Contact Town of Shandaken at (845) 688-5021 to confirm permit availability. 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 minimum1–5 ac — an ADU still has to fit the district's lot and setback envelope.
- UtilityCentral Hudson territory.
- Zoning codeecode360.com/SH1022
- Building dept(845) 688-5021
- Last reviewed2026-08-16
ADU FAQ — Shandaken, NY
Are ADUs allowed in Shandaken, NY?
Town of Shandaken has 8 districts. 6 districts allow ADUs with a special-use permit, 2 do not. Check your address with the free ADU checker, or confirm with the building department at (845) 688-5021.
Do I need a special permit for an ADU in Shandaken?
It depends on the district: 6 of 8 require a special-use permit, the rest do not. Check the district that applies to your parcel before you design.
Can I use an ADU as a short-term rental in Shandaken?
Short-term rentals allowed with registration for Town of Shandaken. 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 Shandaken
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 Shandaken, priced by size.
More on Shandaken: Full zoning for new construction · ADU build cost · House build cost · All Ulster County towns
ADU information for Town of Shandaken 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) 688-5021 before relying on any answer. Source: Offsite / Aldo zoning dataset, municipalData.js.