ADU rules in Ulster County, NY — also called accessory dwelling unit regulations or granny flat ordinances — cover setbacks, owner-occupancy, parking, and permit requirements.
New York has no statewide ADU preemption. Ulster County does not regulate ADUs at the county level — each town and village decides. Many Ulster towns (New Paltz, Woodstock, Rosendale, Saugerties) allow accessory apartments subject to owner-occupancy and size limits.
NY Senate Bill S5172A (statewide ADU authorization) has been introduced repeatedly but has not passed as of 2026. Ulster County does not issue ADU approvals — county Board of Health approval is required only when an ADU triggers a change in septic design outside public sewer. Within towns: New Paltz permits accessory apartments by special use with owner-occupancy and parking requirements; Woodstock allows accessory dwelling units subject to setback and floor-area caps (commonly 800-1,000 sq ft); Rosendale and Saugerties have similar regimes. The NY 'Plus One ADU' state grant program can fund up to $125,000 per unit for income-qualified homeowners. Within the Ashokan watershed, septic capacity is the binding constraint.
Operating an illegal ADU: town zoning enforcement, fines $250-$1,000 per day, plus Certificate of Occupancy revocation. Septic violations within the NYC watershed can bring NYC DEP penalties up to $10,000/day.
Ulster County, NY
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Ulster County, NY
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See how Ulster County's adu rules rules stack up against other locations.
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