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.
Macedon allows a small in-law addition (450 to 550 sq ft) for family in its AR-40 district with a zoning officer's approval.
The code describes a way to approve an ADU with a permit, without a special public hearing for the ADU itself.
The unit is limited to family members, so it cannot be rented to the public.
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 permit (family only) |
|---|---|
| Detached (backyard) unit | No. An addition to an existing single-family house |
| Inside or attached | Yes, as an addition |
| Size limit | 450 to 550 sq ft |
| Bedrooms | None stated |
| Owner must live on site | Not stated; occupancy limited to family members |
| Who may live there | Family members only; it cannot be rented to the public |
| How approval works | Zoning Officer approval, then certificate of occupancy |
| Other rules | These rules are for the AR-40 agricultural and residential district; ask the town about other districts. The house must already meet the town's minimum size for a single-family home, and the apartment shares utilities with it. The code bars anyone but family from living there, but a note says an older section on renting to non-family was repealed in 2020, so ask the town how it reads the two together. |
Code section: §300-66 Additional uses (in-law apartments), AR-40. Added May 11, 1995 (Local Law 2 of 1995); a related subsection repealed June 25, 2020 (Local Law 3 of 2020)
What this means for your plans
- Only family members can live in the ADU, so it can’t be rented for income. Think about what it becomes when family no longer needs it.
What we’re still confirming
- In-law rules in Macedon districts other than AR-40
- Effect of the 2020 repeal on family-only occupancy
Before you spend money on drawings
- Confirm the Town of Macedon 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 NYS Department of Health’s Geneva District Office (315-789-3030) 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 Macedon decides what can be built on your property.