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.
Riga has a special-permit route for in-law or two-family use in RRA; ask how the size minimum applies.
The code allows an ADU only with a special use permit, which a board must approve, usually after a public hearing. Approval is not automatic.
Whether any of this applies to your lot depends on your zoning district and your property.
The rules we found
| What the code says | Allowed with a special use permit |
|---|---|
| Detached (backyard) unit | No route found |
| Inside or attached | Two-family / in-law special permit in RRA |
| Size limit | Two-family standard: at least 1,040 sq ft per residence (ask how it applies to an in-law unit) |
| Bedrooms | Not stated in the code we read |
| Owner must live on site | Not specified |
| How approval works | Planning Board special use permit |
| Other rules | In the RRA district, a lot usually needs at least 1 acre and 210 ft of width, or 30,000 sq ft and 150 ft of width if it has both public water and public sewer. |
Code section: §95-25C(13), D, F (Riga district uses and dimensions). RRA section includes a March 11, 2025 amendment.
What this means for your plans
- Expect a public hearing where neighbors can speak, and a board decision that can take a few months. How special use permits work.
What we’re still confirming
- This comes from our review of the code on September 16, 2026. Confirm with the town before you rely on it.
Before you spend money on drawings
- Confirm the Town of Riga 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 Monroe 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 Riga decides what can be built on your property.