Greece, NY Accessory Structures: ADU Rules (2026)
ADU rules in Greece, NY, also called accessory dwelling unit regulations or granny flat ordinances, cover setbacks, owner-occupancy, parking, and permit requirements.
Key Facts
- Units allowed
- One in-law apartment per one-family home
- Size cap
- 30% of home's floor area or 600 sq ft
- Occupant requirement
- Must be an in-law, notarized affidavit required
- Construction requirement
- Building permit required for any remodeling
- Vacancy rule
- Main family regains use, no re-permitting
- Rental restriction
- Renting to non-in-laws expressly prohibited
Summary
Greece allows one in-law apartment per one-family home as a permitted accessory use, capped at 30% of the house's gross floor area or 600 square feet, whichever is less. The resident owner must file a notarized affidavit confirming the occupant is a relative by marriage, and any construction needs a building permit.
(12) One in-law apartment, provided that: (a) The owner of the one-family dwelling in which an in-law apartment is located shall sign a notarized affidavit or affirmation that states that the resident occupant of such apartment is an in-law of the resident family that occupies such dwelling. (b) The floor area of an in-law apartment shall not exceed 30% of the gross floor area, exclusive of attached garages, of the one-family dwelling in which such apartment is located or 600 square feet, whichever is less. (c) No construction or remodeling of a one-family dwelling in order to provide in-law apartment use shall be permitted without the issuance of a building permit. ... (f) The occupancy or rental of an in-law apartment by persons other than in-laws, as defined in this chapter, is expressly prohibited.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4702072; v22 updated 2025-08-21; through 08-21-2025).
Full Breakdown
Section 211-11B(12) of Greece's Zoning Code permits one in-law apartment per one-family dwelling in the R1-44, R1-18, R1-10 and R1-E Single-Family Residential Districts, subject to several conditions. ' The apartment's floor area can't exceed 30% of the gross floor area of the one-family dwelling, excluding attached garages, or 600 square feet, whichever is less. Any construction or remodeling to create the apartment requires a building permit, and the apartment may have its own exterior door as long as it connects internally to the main dwelling; it may also get its own driveway or garage bays, provided those additions get the applicable permits.
If the apartment sits vacant, the primary family automatically regains full use of the space without any further Town permitting. The code requires the design to preserve the building's one-family appearance as much as reasonably possible, and the Town can demand elevation drawings with a building permit application where alterations are proposed. Renting or occupying the unit by anyone other than a qualifying in-law is expressly prohibited, and the space must meet the habitable-space standards of Title 19 NYCRR, the New York State Building Code.
Violations & Fines
Renting an in-law apartment to a non-relative, building one without a permit, or exceeding the 600-square-foot or 30%-of-floor-area cap violates § 211-11 and is punishable under § 211-72: up to $1,000 or six months in jail for a first offense, escalating to $2,500 to $10,000 for a third offense within five years, with each week a separate violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big can an in-law apartment be in Greece?
Who is allowed to live in an in-law apartment?
Do I need a permit to build an in-law apartment?
What happens to the apartment if the in-law moves out?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Greece
How Greece compares: Easiest Cities to Build an ADU·New York rules heatmap·Compare Greece to another location·View the New York accessory structures overview
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