Churchville allows a new or converted backyard ADU, or an attached one, with up to two bedrooms and the owner on site, by special permit.
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 | Yes, new or converted, in LDR and TVR |
| Inside or attached | Yes, in LDR and TVR |
| Size limit | No ADU-specific cap; accessory building height (15 ft), setbacks and 35% lot coverage apply |
| Bedrooms | 2 |
| Owner must live on site | Yes, nine months a year; rent only one unit |
| How approval works | Special permit plus site plan review |
| Other rules | One ADU per single-family home, with a full kitchen and bath. A detached ADU must sit at least 8 ft from the side lot line, 5 ft from the back lot line and 10 ft from the house. It can't be split off or sold separately. A new entrance on an attached ADU goes on the side or back, and an addition can't be taller than the house. |
Code section: §§250-13–15 (Churchville residential zoning)
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.
- The owner has to live on the property. If you plan to move away, spend winters somewhere else or sell, read the owner rule above closely. Renting and owner rules.
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 Village of Churchville 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 Village of Churchville decides what can be built on your property.