ADU Ready?
The Capital District Regional Planning Commission (CDRPC) has released ADU Ready? A Comparative Municipal Zoning Assessment of Accessory Dwelling Unit Regulations, a report examining how municipalities across Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, and Schenectady counties regulate accessory dwelling units (ADUs). The analysis compares local regulations related to ADU types, size, permitting, parking, owner occupancy, and occupancy requirements.
The findings show that ADU regulations vary considerably across the Capital Region, with differences in how communities permit and regulate these smaller residential units.
Key findings from the report include:
- More than half of Capital Region municipalities have no identified ADU policy. Approximately 51.3% fall into the “No ADU Policy” tier, while 26.9% are rated High, 16.7% Medium, and 5.1% Very High.
- ADU regulations vary widely between counties. Rensselaer County has the largest share of municipalities with no identified ADU policy at 59.1%, followed by Saratoga County at 60% and Schenectady County at 37.5%.
- Local zoning can shape the feasibility of ADU development. Communities differ in the types of ADUs permitted, maximum size, approval process, parking requirements, owner-occupancy rules, and restrictions on who may occupy an ADU.
- ADUs offer a flexible approach to expanding housing options. They can add housing within existing neighborhoods while supporting aging in place, multigenerational households, and smaller households without requiring large-scale redevelopment.
- The analysis provides a baseline for comparing local ADU policies. The report and accompanying interactive dashboard allow users to explore how individual municipalities regulate ADUs and identify opportunities for policy review.
Explore the full report and its interactive portion:
ADU Ready A Comparative Municipal Zoning Assessment of Accessory Dwelling Unit Regulations
