Albany, NY Building Setbacks & Zoning: Lot Coverage Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- R-1L max coverage
- 30% impervious
- R-1M max coverage
- 40% impervious
- R-2 max coverage
- 70% impervious
- R-T / R-M max coverage
- 80% impervious
- R-V max coverage
- 50% impervious
Summary
Albany limits how much of every lot can be covered by buildings, driveways, and other impervious surfaces, with maximum coverage ranging from 30% to 80% by zoning district, to curb stormwater flooding and combined sewer overflows.
Impervious surface. Because some areas of the City are subject to combined sewer overflows and to surface stormwater flooding, it is important that the maximum amount of impervious surface on each lot is carefully regulated. Each dimensional table in Subsection (3) below contains maximum impervious surface limits designed to reduce off-site flows into the City's stormwater system by allowing a significant percentage of rainfall to infiltrate into the soil on individual lots and parcels.
(e) Emergency vehicle access. All buildings or groups of buildings in all zoning districts shall be constructed with an approved emergency vehicle access. Access to any building or structure that does not abut a public right-of-way shall have a width of at least 20 feet and vehicle clearance of 14 feet.
(3) Dimensional Standards Summary Tables.
(a) Residential districts. General standards. Dimensional standards for residential zoning districts are shown in Table 375.401.1 below.
Table 375.401.1 Residential District Dimensional Standards Zoning District R-1L R-1M R-2 R-T R-M R-V Lot Standards Lot area, minimum (square feet) 6,500 3,500 2,250 1,150 N/A N/A Lot depth, minimum (feet) 110 100 90 55 N/A N/A Lot width, minimum (feet) 70[1] 40[1] 25[1] 18[1] 22[1] 100[1] Impervious lot coverage, maximum 30% 40% 70% 80% 80% 50% Setbacks Front yard, minimum (feet) 25[2] 15[2] 10[2] 0[2] 0[2] 10[2] Side yard, minimum (feet) 5 0[3] 0[3] 0
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4873446; v61 updated 2026-03-18; through 03-18-2026).
Full Breakdown
Albany's Unified Sustainable Development Ordinance caps impervious lot coverage, the share of a lot covered by buildings, pavement, and anything else that blocks rainfall from soaking into the ground, because parts of the city have combined sewer overflows and surface stormwater flooding. Table 375.401.1 sets the ceiling by residential district: 30% in R-1L, 40% in R-1M, 70% in R-2, 80% in both R-T and R-M, and 50% in R-V. The cap applies to every building, lot, and parcel citywide unless another USDO provision says otherwise, and it's checked during development-plan and building-permit review before any permit issues.
Violations & Fines
No development plan may be approved and no building permit may be issued for a project that fails to meet § 375-401's dimensional standards, including the maximum impervious coverage limits, so exceeding the cap blocks permit issuance outright.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as impervious surface in Albany?
Does the lot coverage limit vary by zoning district?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Albany
New York rules heatmap·Compare Albany to another location·View the New York building setbacks & zoning overview
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