ADU · Ulster County
Can you build an ADU in Woodstock, NY?
Town of Woodstock has 9 districts. 4 of 9 districts allow ADUs. 5 districts have incomplete data - verify with the building department at (845) 679-2113. Check your address to confirm the district that applies to your parcel:
What the Woodstock 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 8-Acre (R8) | 8 ac | 25 / 25 / 50 ft | 35 ft | As of right |
| Residential 5-Acre (R5) | 5 ac | 25 / 25 / 50 ft | 35 ft | As of right |
| Residential 3-Acre (R3) | 3 ac | 25 / 25 / 50 ft | 35 ft | As of right |
| Residential 1.5-Acre (R1.5) | 1.5 ac | 25 / 15 / 25 ft | 35 ft | As of right |
| Hamlet Residential (HR) | 0.6887 ac | 20 / 10 / 25 ft | 35 ft | — |
| Hamlet Commercial (HC) | 0.2296 ac | 15 / 10 / 25 ft | 35 ft | — |
| Neighborhood Commercial (NC) | 1 ac | 15 / 10 / 25 ft | 35 ft | — |
| Light Industrial (LI) | 3 ac | 100 / 50 / 100 ft | 35 ft | — |
| Floodway (FW) | — | — | — | — |
Residential 8-Acre (R8) — Min open space 85%. FAR governs NONRESIDENTIAL floor area per square foot of site area (260 Attachment 2, note 3). On a right-of-way under 50 ft the front setback is measured from the centre line with 25 ft added (§ 260-26A). Maximum height 35 ft and 2 1/2 stories in every district where development is permitted. Lots of record predating 2001 that are under the district minimum take the reduced yards in § 260-26B.
Residential 5-Acre (R5) — Min open space 80%. FAR governs NONRESIDENTIAL floor area per square foot of site area (260 Attachment 2, note 3). On a right-of-way under 50 ft the front setback is measured from the centre line with 25 ft added (§ 260-26A). Maximum height 35 ft and 2 1/2 stories in every district where development is permitted. Lots of record predating 2001 that are under the district minimum take the reduced yards in § 260-26B.
Residential 3-Acre (R3) — Min open space 70%. FAR governs NONRESIDENTIAL floor area per square foot of site area (260 Attachment 2, note 3). On a right-of-way under 50 ft the front setback is measured from the centre line with 25 ft added (§ 260-26A). Maximum height 35 ft and 2 1/2 stories in every district where development is permitted. Lots of record predating 2001 that are under the district minimum take the reduced yards in § 260-26B.
Residential 1.5-Acre (R1.5) — Min open space 70%, 60% with central water or common sewer, 50% with both. FAR governs NONRESIDENTIAL floor area per square foot of site area (260 Attachment 2, note 3). On a right-of-way under 50 ft the front setback is measured from the centre line with 25 ft added (§ 260-26A). Maximum height 35 ft and 2 1/2 stories in every district where development is permitted. Lots of record predating 2001 that are under the district minimum take the reduced yards in § 260-26B.
Hamlet Residential (HR) — Min open space 40%, 30% with central water or common sewer, 25% with both. FAR governs NONRESIDENTIAL floor area per square foot of site area (260 Attachment 2, note 3). On a right-of-way under 50 ft the front setback is measured from the centre line with 25 ft added (§ 260-26A). Maximum height 35 ft and 2 1/2 stories in every district where development is permitted.
Hamlet Commercial (HC) — Min open space 25%. One set of standards — HC does not vary with utility service. FAR governs NONRESIDENTIAL floor area per square foot of site area (260 Attachment 2, note 3). On a right-of-way under 50 ft the front setback is measured from the centre line with 25 ft added (§ 260-26A). Maximum height 35 ft and 2 1/2 stories in every district where development is permitted.
Neighborhood Commercial (NC) — Min open space 40%, 30% with central water or common sewer, 25% with both. Adequate space must be left between front and side lot lines and structures for sidewalks, curbing, street trees and open space (260 Attachment 2, note 2). FAR governs NONRESIDENTIAL floor area per square foot of site area (260 Attachment 2, note 3). On a right-of-way under 50 ft the front setback is measured from the centre line with 25 ft added (§ 260-26A). Maximum height 35 ft and 2 1/2 stories in every district where development is permitted.
Light Industrial (LI) — No dwelling is permitted in LI (260 Attachment 1). THE BASE ROW IS THE R1.5 CASE: LI standards step with the underlying residential district, and the schedule prints three rows — in R1.5, 3 acres / 200 ft width / 100 ft front / 50 ft side / 100 ft rear / FAR 0.50; in R3, 5 acres / 350 / 125 / 125 / 125 / FAR 0.63; in R5, 8 acres / 350 / 125 / 125 / 125 / FAR 0.63. Coverage 20% in the R1.5 case and 25% in the other two, open space 60% throughout. The underlying-district axis has no term in the condition vocabulary, so the R3 and R5 rows are stated here rather than recorded as variants. FAR governs NONRESIDENTIAL floor area per square foot of site area (260 Attachment 2, note 3). On a right-of-way under 50 ft the front setback is measured from the centre line with 25 ft added (§ 260-26A). Maximum height 35 ft and 2 1/2 stories in every district where development is permitted.
Floodway (FW) — No development permitted in the Floodway District (260 Attachment 2). Every residential and commercial use is prohibited in FW under 260 Attachment 1.
ADUs vs. short-term rentals in Woodstock
Short-term rentals allowed with registration for Town of Woodstock. Local Law No. 2 of 2022. Annual registration required ($150/yr). Limited to 120 nights per calendar year. No owner-occupancy requirement. 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 minimum0.6887–8 ac — an ADU still has to fit the district's lot and setback envelope.
- Energy codeNew York stretch energy code adopted (January 2023) — applies to new ADU construction.
- UtilityCentral Hudson territory.
- Zoning codeecode360.com/8008828
- Building dept(845) 679-2113
- Last reviewedFeb 2026
ADU FAQ — Woodstock, NY
Are ADUs allowed in Woodstock, NY?
Town of Woodstock has 9 districts. 4 of 9 districts allow ADUs. 5 districts have incomplete data - verify with the building department at (845) 679-2113. Check your address with the free ADU checker.
Do I need a special permit for an ADU in Woodstock?
No district in Town of Woodstock requires a special-use permit for an ADU - 4 districts allow ADUs. Site-plan review or a building permit may still apply.
Can I use an ADU as a short-term rental in Woodstock?
Short-term rentals allowed with registration for Town of Woodstock. 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 Woodstock
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 Woodstock, priced by size.
More on Woodstock: Full zoning for new construction · ADU build cost · House build cost · All Ulster County towns
ADU information for Town of Woodstock is compiled from the municipal code (last reviewed Feb 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) 679-2113 before relying on any answer. Source: Offsite / Aldo zoning dataset, municipalData.js.