Amherst, NY Building Setbacks & Zoning: Lot Coverage Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Max building coverage (R-1)
- 35% of lot area
- Governing section
- Amherst Code § 3-4-2B
- Min lot area (R-1)
- 21,780 sq ft per dwelling
- First-offense fine
- up to $350 (§ 8-16-1)
- Third-offense fine
- $700 to $1,000
- Enforcing officer
- Commissioner of Building
Summary
In Amherst's R-1 single-family district, the Town caps building coverage at 35% of the lot, per the R-1 Principal Use Dimensional Standards table in Town Code § 3-4-2B. Lots must also meet a 21,780-square-foot minimum area per dwelling, so the 35% cap applies against that floor.
R-1 Principal Use Dimensional Standards Min. lot area (per dwelling) 21,780 sf Min. lot width 100 ft Min. yards Front yard 30 ft Rear yard 35 ft Combined side yard 20 ft Each side yard 8 ft Corner lot See § 2-5-2A(5) Through lot See § 2-5-2A(2) Max. height 2 stories (up to 35 ft) Max. building coverage 35%
Full Breakdown
building coverage" at 35% alongside a minimum lot area of 21,780 square feet per dwelling and a minimum lot width of 100 feet. building coverage (including principal structure)" at 35%, meaning garages, sheds and other accessory buildings count against the same lot-wide limit as the house itself rather than getting a separate allowance. , it draws down the same 35% cap rather than being exempt. A footnote to the R-1 table notes that the diagram which used to accompany it was repealed February 8, 2016 by Local Law No.
2-2016, leaving the numeric standards in the table itself as the operative text. Coverage compliance is checked at the building permit stage by the Commissioner of Building; a permit that would push a lot's combined footprint of principal and accessory structures past 35% cannot be issued as-of-right and would require either a design change or a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals. Other residential and nonresidential districts carry their own dimensional standards tables in Parts 3, 4 and 5 of the Zoning Ordinance, so the 35% figure applies specifically to R-1 and is not a townwide constant.
Violations & Fines
Building without a permit, or building past the approved footprint, is enforced under § 8-16-1, Penalties For Violation, in Part 8 of the Zoning Ordinance. A first offense carries a fine up to $350 or up to six months' imprisonment, or both; a second offense within five years runs $350 to $700; a third or subsequent offense within five years runs $700 to $1,000, with imprisonment up to six months possible at every tier. Each week a violation continues counts as a separate offense, and the Commissioner of Building administers enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum lot coverage allowed in Amherst's R-1 district?
Does the 35% cap include garages and sheds, not just the house?
What happens if I build over the coverage limit without a permit?
Does 35% coverage apply everywhere in the Town of Amherst?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Amherst
New York rules heatmap·Compare Amherst to another location·View the New York building setbacks & zoning overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.