Greenburgh, NY Accessory Structures: Garage Conversions (2026)

Code § 285-36(O)(3)(c), added by Local Law No. 2-2026 (adopted April 8, 2026), sets the size and height ceiling for any ADU built inside a detached accessory structure such as a garage: gross floor area cannot exceed 800 square feet, and the structure's height is capped at 12 feet. Because many existing garages predate that limit, the same subsection lets the Planning Board waive the 12-foot cap after receiving a written recommendation from the Commissioner of the Department of Community Development and Conservation, but only where the structure being converted lawfully already exceeds 12 feet and the waiver will not detrimentally impact the abutting property owners.

A parallel waiver applies to setbacks: under § 285-36(O)(4), the Planning Board may waive underlying zoning-district setback requirements for a lawfully existing accessory structure being converted to an ADU, again subject to the Commissioner's written recommendation and the same no-detriment-to-neighbors standard. A converted garage must otherwise meet the lot-size floor for no-expansion conversions of 7,500 square feet under § 285-36(O)(2), the one-ADU-per-lot cap, public water and sewer service, and the same special-permit, inspection and compliance-affidavit requirements that apply to every other ADU type in the Town.