We read this municipality’s code, but parts of our finding still need confirming. Treat it as a starting point and confirm with the code office.
Stafford lists accessory apartments as an allowed accessory use in its R, A-R, C and H districts but sets no standards for them. It also allows only one main building per lot in A-R and R, so ask the town whether a separate building would qualify.
The code lists an accessory apartment as an allowed use, but in a limited form or with few written standards.
Whether any of this applies to your lot depends on your zoning district and your property.
The rules we found
| What the code says | Limited apartment allowed |
|---|---|
| Detached (backyard) unit | Likely not: one principal building and one principal use per lot in A-R and R (§182-12A) |
| Inside or attached | Accessory apartments are a listed accessory use in R, A-R, C and H (§§182-20, 182-21, 182-22, 182-25); no standards found |
| Size limit | Not applicable |
| Bedrooms | Not applicable |
| Owner must live on site | Not applicable |
| How approval works | Listed as an accessory use; the permit steps were not confirmed |
| Other rules | Unlisted uses are not permitted (§182-11). Only one principal building and one principal use per lot in A-R and R (§182-12A). |
Code section: §§182-20, 182-21, 182-22, 182-25 accessory apartments; §182-12A one principal building per lot
What we’re still confirming
- Definitions article (any standards for accessory apartments)
Before you spend money on drawings
- Confirm the Town of Stafford governs your lot: it should be the municipality on your property tax bill.
- Find your zoning district on the municipal zoning map; the rules above can differ by district.
- Call or write the code office with your address and what you’re picturing, and ask for the answer and the code section in writing.
- On septic or a well? Ask the Genesee County health department whether the system can serve an extra bedroom. On public sewer? Ask your sewer district.
Our guides explain the approval process, site and utility checks and what an ADU costs.
Sources
General information, not legal advice. The Town of Stafford decides what can be built on your property.