Not the same as the Town of Geneva. The Town of Geneva has no ADU rule in its code. It does have a cottage-court option for clusters of small homes, which is a different kind of project. See Ontario County. Check which one is on your property tax bill.
Geneva allows an ADU by special permit in its residential districts, either inside a large house (2,000 sq ft or more) or in a rear-yard garage or outbuilding of at least 500 sq ft, with the owner living on site.
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, in a detached garage or other accessory structure in the rear yard with at least 500 sq ft of living space |
| Inside or attached | Yes, if the main house has at least 2,000 sq ft of living space and the ADU entrance is on the side or rear |
| Size limit | No square-foot cap found beyond the house-size and accessory-structure tests |
| Bedrooms | 2 |
| Owner must live on site | Yes. Owner lives in one unit as primary home and signs a notarized affidavit; a new owner files within 30 days of closing |
| How approval works | Special use permit in LDR, MDR, LLR3 and MR districts |
| Other rules | One ADU per single-family home, with a full kitchen and bath. Not allowed on a lot or in a building that doesn't meet today's zoning rules. Your existing driveway must fit one more car, the ADU can't be sold separately, and the code officer may inspect it each year. In the historic overlay district, an accessory building like a garage also needs a certificate of appropriateness (the city's historic design approval). |
Code section: §350-7.3 Accessory dwelling units; §350-3.4 residential use list
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
- Whether a newly built rear-yard structure qualifies or only an existing one
- ADU status in the mixed-use districts in §350-4.4
Before you spend money on drawings
- Confirm the City of Geneva 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.
- Ask the city’s water and sewer office how the ADU would connect and whether connection fees apply.
Our guides explain the approval process, site and utility checks and what an ADU costs.
Sources
General information, not legal advice. The City of Geneva decides what can be built on your property.