Setbacks vary by zoning district in each Dutchess County town. Typical residential requirements: 25-50 ft front, 10-20 ft side, 25-40 ft rear. Agricultural zones often require 75-100 ft road setbacks. Hudson River waterfront has additional Coastal Erosion Hazard Area (CEHA) and LWRP buffers under NY ECL Article 34.
Dutchess County towns establish setbacks in zoning schedules. Examples: Town of Rhinebeck R-1 residential: 40 ft front, 20 ft side, 40 ft rear; R-3 rural residential: 75 ft front, 30 ft side, 50 ft rear. Town of Hyde Park R-3A: 50 ft front, 20 ft side, 40 ft rear. Town of Wappinger R-40/80 zones: 50-75 ft front, 20 ft side, 40 ft rear. Town of East Fishkill RR residential: 50 ft front, 25 ft side, 50 ft rear. Agricultural zones (Milan AG, Stanford AG, Pine Plains) often require 75-100 ft front setbacks to preserve rural character. Hudson River waterfront parcels in Hyde Park, Rhinebeck, and Poughkeepsie face additional Coastal Erosion Hazard Area (CEHA) designations under NY ECL Article 34, with 40-100 ft minimum structure setbacks from erosion hazard lines. NYSDEC freshwater wetland buffers add 100 ft where applicable. Accessory structures have reduced setbacks (typically 5-10 ft sides/rear). Variances under NY Town Law §267-b with ZBA five-factor test.
Construction in setback: stop-work order, $250-$2,500 zoning fine per day, possible demolition/alteration order. CEHA violation: NYSDEC civil penalty up to $10,000/day under ECL Article 34. Wetland buffer violation: NYSDEC ECL §71-2303 penalties up to $11,000/day.
Dutchess County, NY
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See how Dutchess County's setback rules rules stack up against other locations.
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