ADU · Ulster County
Can you build an ADU in Wawarsing, NY?
Town of Wawarsing has 13 districts. 8 districts allow ADUs, 3 do not, 2 require a special-use permit. Check your address to confirm the district that applies to your parcel:
What the Wawarsing 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AD Agriculture Development | 10 ac | 50 / 50 / 50 ft | 35 ft | As of right |
| RP Ridge Protection | 7 ac | 50 / 50 / 50 ft | 35 ft | Special permit |
| VP Viewshed Protection | 5 ac | 50 / 50 / 50 ft | 35 ft | As of right |
| RU Rural | 5 ac | 250 / 50 / 50 ft | 35 ft | As of right |
| RH Ridge Hamlet | 3 ac | 50 / 50 / 50 ft | 35 ft | Special permit |
| RS-1 Low Density Residential Settlement | 2 ac | 35 / 25 / 35 ft | 35 ft | As of right |
| RS-2 Low Density Residential Settlement (Legacy GIS Code) | 2 ac | 35 / 25 / 35 ft | 35 ft | As of right |
| RMH Residential Manufactured Home | 1 ac | 35 / 25 / 25 ft | 35 ft | As of right |
| MU Mixed Use | 1 ac | 35 / 25 / 25 ft | 45 ft | As of right |
| NS Neighborhood Settlement | 1 ac | 35 / 25 / 35 ft | 35 ft | As of right |
| BH Business Highway | 1 ac | 35 / 25 / 35 ft | 45 ft | No |
| PCIM Planned Commercial, Industrial and Mixed Use | 1 ac | 50 / 0 / 25 ft | 45 ft | No |
| RED Resort and Economic Development | 1 ac | 50 / 0 / 25 ft | 45 ft | No |
AD Agriculture Development — The schedule prints four development-standard columns for every district: A on-site sewage and water, B central water only, C central sewage only, D central sewage and water (schedule note **). The base row is column A. AD prints N/A in columns B, C and D — it does not relax with central service. Maximum building height is 35 ft for residential and 45 ft for all other uses; stories 3 and 3.5 respectively. Subdivisions must be designed as a CONSERVATION SUBDIVISION under § 112-27 (schedule note ****). A special use may carry more specific bulk requirements under § 112-41; where standards conflict the STRICTER controls.
RP Ridge Protection — The schedule prints four development-standard columns for every district: A on-site sewage and water, B central water only, C central sewage only, D central sewage and water (schedule note **). The base row is column A. All four columns are identical in RP — the district does not relax with central service. Subdivisions must be designed as a conservation subdivision under § 112-27. A special use may carry more specific bulk requirements under § 112-41; where standards conflict the STRICTER controls.
VP Viewshed Protection — The schedule prints four development-standard columns for every district: A on-site sewage and water, B central water only, C central sewage only, D central sewage and water (schedule note **). The base row is column A. All four columns are identical in VP. Subdivisions must be designed as a conservation subdivision under § 112-27. A special use may carry more specific bulk requirements under § 112-41; where standards conflict the STRICTER controls.
RU Rural — The schedule prints four development-standard columns for every district: A on-site sewage and water, B central water only, C central sewage only, D central sewage and water (schedule note **). The base row is column A. The column A front yard is 250 ft and falls to 50 ft in every serviced column, while the lot depth RISES from 200 ft to 250 ft. Column A publishes no lot width. § 112-69B allows one-time subdivision lot size exemptions (schedule note ***). A special use may carry more specific bulk requirements under § 112-41; where standards conflict the STRICTER controls.
RH Ridge Hamlet — The schedule prints four development-standard columns for every district: A on-site sewage and water, B central water only, C central sewage only, D central sewage and water (schedule note **). The base row is column A. RH prints N/A in columns B, C and D. The schedule states no minimum lot depth. A special use may carry more specific bulk requirements under § 112-41; where standards conflict the STRICTER controls.
RS-1 Low Density Residential Settlement — The schedule prints four development-standard columns for every district: A on-site sewage and water, B central water only, C central sewage only, D central sewage and water (schedule note **). The base row is column A. Columns A, B and C are identical; only full central sewage and water changes RS-1. A special use may carry more specific bulk requirements under § 112-41; where standards conflict the STRICTER controls.
RS-2 Low Density Residential Settlement (Legacy GIS Code) — RS-2 HAS NO ROW IN THE CURRENT SCHEDULE. Appendix A, as amended by L.L. No. 2-2024, publishes a block for RS-1 and none for RS-2, so the figures held here are not sourced from it and are left unchanged. They match RS-1 column A. Worth resolving against the Zoning Map before relying on them.
RMH Residential Manufactured Home — The schedule prints four development-standard columns for every district: A on-site sewage and water, B central water only, C central sewage only, D central sewage and water (schedule note **). The base row is column A. RMH tightens on every axis as service arrives: a quarter-acre lot at 50 ft wide with 10 ft side and rear yards in column D against an acre at 125 ft in column A. A special use may carry more specific bulk requirements under § 112-41; where standards conflict the STRICTER controls.
MU Mixed Use — The schedule prints four development-standard columns for every district: A on-site sewage and water, B central water only, C central sewage only, D central sewage and water (schedule note **). The base row is column A. A special use may carry more specific bulk requirements under § 112-41; where standards conflict the STRICTER controls.
NS Neighborhood Settlement — The schedule prints four development-standard columns for every district: A on-site sewage and water, B central water only, C central sewage only, D central sewage and water (schedule note **). The base row is column A. Columns A and B are identical; NS moves only when central sewage is present. A special use may carry more specific bulk requirements under § 112-41; where standards conflict the STRICTER controls.
BH Business Highway — The schedule prints four development-standard columns for every district: A on-site sewage and water, B central water only, C central sewage only, D central sewage and water (schedule note **). The base row is column A. Columns A and B are identical; BH moves only when central sewage is present. A special use may carry more specific bulk requirements under § 112-41; where standards conflict the STRICTER controls.
PCIM Planned Commercial, Industrial and Mixed Use — The schedule prints four development-standard columns for every district: A on-site sewage and water, B central water only, C central sewage only, D central sewage and water (schedule note **). The base row is column A. Only the lot area changes across the columns — PCIM's width, depth, yards, coverage and height are the same in all four. A special use may carry more specific bulk requirements under § 112-41; where standards conflict the STRICTER controls.
RED Resort and Economic Development — The schedule prints four development-standard columns for every district: A on-site sewage and water, B central water only, C central sewage only, D central sewage and water (schedule note **). The base row is column A. Only the lot area changes across the columns — RED's width, depth, yards, coverage and height are the same in all four. A special use may carry more specific bulk requirements under § 112-41; where standards conflict the STRICTER controls.
ADUs vs. short-term rentals in Wawarsing
Short-term rentals allowed with registration for Town of Wawarsing. STR permit required in the Town of Wawarsing. Permit application available from the town. Must also register with Ulster County for occupancy tax. Contact Town of Wawarsing at (845) 647-6570. 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 minimum2–10 ac — an ADU still has to fit the district's lot and setback envelope.
- UtilityOrange & Rockland territory.
- Zoning codeecode360.com/WA0802
- Building dept(845) 647-6570
- Last reviewedApr 2026
ADU FAQ — Wawarsing, NY
Are ADUs allowed in Wawarsing, NY?
Town of Wawarsing has 13 districts. 8 districts allow ADUs, 3 do not, 2 require a special-use permit. Check your address with the free ADU checker, or confirm with the building department at (845) 647-6570.
Do I need a special permit for an ADU in Wawarsing?
It depends on the district: 2 of 13 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 Wawarsing?
Short-term rentals allowed with registration for Town of Wawarsing. 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 Wawarsing
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 Wawarsing, priced by size.
More on Wawarsing: Full zoning for new construction · ADU build cost · House build cost · All Ulster County towns
ADU information for Town of Wawarsing 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) 647-6570 before relying on any answer. Source: Offsite / Aldo zoning dataset, municipalData.js.