Not the same as the Town of Pittsford. The Town of Pittsford allows a shared accessory suite inside a home, not a separate rentable unit. The Village of Pittsford has its own, more open rule. See Monroe County. Check which one is on your property tax bill.
The Village of Pittsford allows an ADU in a large house or a sizable rear outbuilding, owner on site, by special permit in its LDR district.
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, a rear accessory structure with at least 500 sq ft of habitable area |
| Inside or attached | Yes, if the main home has at least 2,500 sq ft of habitable area |
| Size limit | No square-foot cap; house-size and structure-size tests apply |
| Bedrooms | 2 |
| Owner must live on site | Yes |
| How approval works | Special use permit from the Village Board after a public hearing, then Planning Board site plan review (LDR district only) |
| Other rules | Allowed only in the LDR zoning district, one per home. Not allowed on a lot or in a building that doesn't meet today's zoning rules. You'll need extra parking and a signed occupancy affidavit (a sworn statement). |
Code section: §210-24.3 (Village of Pittsford ADU standards)
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.
Before you spend money on drawings
- Confirm the Village of Pittsford 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
- Village of Pittsford code: §210-24.3 (Village of Pittsford ADU standards) · official source
- Village of Pittsford residential use table, §210-20.4
- Village of Pittsford 2026 enacted laws, 2026 Local Laws
- Village of Pittsford proposed laws, 2026 Proposed Local Laws
- Village of Pittsford building or code office
General information, not legal advice. The Village of Pittsford decides what can be built on your property.