5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in New York County, New York.
Verified from official government sources
NYC does not have a permissive ADU ordinance. Manhattan zoning generally prohibits accessory dwelling units in single-family and many multi-family buildings. State law 2024 carve-outs do not override NYC zoning.
New York County is Manhattan, governed entirely by the consolidated City of New York. Backyard storage sheds are regulated by NYC Zoning Resolution Section 23-44, which permits one accessory shed in a required rear yard with a maximum height of 10 feet above the rear-yard level. Under 1 RCNY Section 101-14, a temporary, portable, freestanding shed not exceeding 120 square feet in area and 7 feet 6 inches in height may be installed without a Department of Buildings permit, limited to one per tax lot. Larger or permanent sheds require a DOB permit and must comply with the NYC Building Code.
1 RCNY §101-14(d), Table 1, Item 1 (Sheds — Work Exempt from Permit in One- and Two-family Dwellings)
Sheds. Temporary portable freestanding sheds erected on the same zoning lot as, and accessory to, a one- or two-family dwelling, provided that all of the following requirements are met: (1) The shed shall not exceed 120 square feet in area and shall not be more than 7'6" in height; and (2) The shed shall not obstruct any required window; and (3) The shed shall not be located within 3 feet (915 ...
Garage-to-living-space conversions in Manhattan require a DOB alteration permit, zoning compliance, and Multiple Dwelling Law review. Most Manhattan properties lack private garages, making this rare.
New York County is coterminous with Manhattan and has no separate county government — all building and zoning rules come from the consolidated City of New York. Carports are extremely rare in Manhattan and are regulated as accessory structures under the NYC Zoning Resolution and the NYC Building Code (Title 28 of the NYC Administrative Code and 1 RCNY). Any roofed parking structure attached to or detached from a residence requires a Department of Buildings (DOB) permit, must comply with the bulk and yard rules of the underlying zoning district, and counts toward floor area in most districts.
Tiny homes as standalone dwellings are effectively prohibited in Manhattan by the NYC Zoning Resolution and NYC Building Code minimum habitable room requirements.
1 cities in New York County have their own accessory structures rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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