Bolthole Index

Columbia County, New York

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Hudson, New York

The City of Hudson, New York, in Columbia County, adopts its own zoning and requires a building permit from the city Building Inspector for new construction12. A building permit cannot issue unless public water and public sewerage reach the lot3. Septic permits for Columbia County come from the county Department of Health, not the city4.

At a glance

Building permit
Required from the Hudson Building Inspector for erecting, enlarging or converting a building2
Zoning
Hudson adopts and administers its own zoning chapter15
Public water and sewer
Required to be available to the lot before a building permit issues3
Septic
Columbia County Department of Health handles sewage disposal applications4
RV living
Only in a coach park; living in a parked trailer on a lot is limited6
Accessory dwelling unit
Allowed in every zoning district with a city building permit7
Minimum dwelling size
350 square feet per dwelling unit8

Who to call

Building permits

City of Hudson Code Enforcement Department

Building permits, sign permits, and zoning board appeals inside the City of Hudson

(518) 828-3133

hudsonceo@cityofhudson.org

77 N. 7th Street, Suite #2 Hudson, NY 12534

Septic permits

Columbia County Department of Health, Environmental Health Division

Sewage disposal applications for Columbia County, including the county standards Hudson cites for accessory dwelling units

518-828-3358

ccdoh@columbiacountyny.gov

325 Columbia St. Ste. 100, Hudson, NY 12534

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 24, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Hudson means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does Hudson, NY have zoning, and what does it mean for RVs, tiny homes and lot size?

Yes. The City of Hudson, Columbia County, adopted its own zoning chapter through the Common Council, and development inside city limits remains subject to district and approval provisions1. The city publishes a range of residential, commercial, industrial and waterfront districts, so the answer to any lot question depends on the parcel's district5.

Living in an RV inside Hudson is tightly limited. A trailer coach or house car used for living or sleeping must be in a coach park, and one trailer may be parked on a resident's property only if it is not used for living, sleeping or business and meets the stated setbacks6. Hudson also sets a minimum dwelling size of 350 square feet for each unit, studios included8. We could not confirm Hudson's tiny-home rules, minimum lot sizes or setbacks, so ask the Code Enforcement Department before you buy.

Do you need a building permit in Hudson, and who issues it?

Yes. Inside Hudson, erecting, enlarging, converting, removing or demolishing a building requires a building permit from the city Building Inspector; painting, decorating and ordinary non-structural repairs are exempt2. The City of Hudson has accepted the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code and the Energy Code9. Applications go to the Building Inspector on the office's forms, and the inspector approves or disapproves within a reasonable time10. The permit fee is set by the Common Council and must be paid before the permit issues11.

Columbia County does not issue these permits; its own page says municipalities are responsible for building codes, zoning and land use enforcement12. We could not confirm an owner-builder exemption inside the city.

Who is the Hudson building department, and how do you reach it?

The City of Hudson Code Enforcement Department issues building permits, sign permits and zoning board appeal forms13. The office is at 77 N. 7th Street, Suite #2, Hudson, NY 12534, phone (518) 828-3133, email hudsonceo@cityofhudson.org13.

A building permit is followed by inspections during construction and at completion, and a new building cannot be occupied until the Building Inspector issues a certificate of occupancy1415. Curb work is separate: permission to depress a curb for a driveway comes from the Department of Public Works16.

How do septic permits work inside Hudson?

In most of Hudson the question rarely arises, because the city will not issue a building permit unless public water and public sewerage are available to the lot3. Where an onsite system is involved, the Columbia County Department of Health handles individual sewage disposal applications, which need engineered design plans417. The county's published single-lot application fee is $50018. Hudson's accessory dwelling rule also points to Columbia County Department of Health standards for water and sewage disposal7.

We could not confirm a city-level septic permit requirement or the rules for private wells inside Hudson. Call the Columbia County Department of Health at 518-828-335819.

Can you add an accessory dwelling or live in a tiny home or RV in Hudson?

An accessory dwelling unit is permitted in every Hudson zoning district as an accessory use to a one-family dwelling7. The parcel must be the owner's primary domicile, only one unit is allowed per lot, it must sit on a permanent foundation on the same tax lot, and it needs a city building permit and certificate of occupancy7. No separate new driveway access is permitted for the unit7.

RVs and trailers used for living must be in a coach park6. Tiny-home and manufactured-home occupancy rules inside Hudson are unconfirmed; ask the Code Enforcement Department.

How do you build a home in Hudson, step by step?

  1. Confirm the parcel's zoning district with the Code Enforcement Department513.
  2. Confirm that public water and sewerage reach the lot, since a building permit will not issue without them3.
  3. Apply for a building permit with the Building Inspector, using the office forms10.
  4. Pay the council-set permit fee11.
  5. Schedule inspections during construction and at completion14.
  6. Obtain the certificate of occupancy before anyone moves in15.
  7. If a curb must be lowered for a driveway, get permission from the Department of Public Works16.

What stays with Columbia County, and what should you check before buying in Hudson?

Septic permits and sewage disposal applications stay with the Columbia County Department of Health4. For land outside the city, zoning and building permits come from the town or village where the parcel lies, so use the Columbia County page for county-wide context12.

Before buying, check the lot's zoning district, utility availability, and the subdivision rules: conservation development is required in the Institutional-Residential Conservation district for a subdivision into three or more lots20. Columbia County's effective property tax rate is about 1.5%21.

Watch-outs

  • A Hudson building permit will not issue unless public water and sewerage are available to the lot3.
  • A parked trailer on a Hudson lot cannot be used for living or sleeping unless it is in a coach park6.
  • We could not confirm Hudson's minimum lot sizes, setbacks, lot coverage, building height limits or short-term rental rules; ask the Code Enforcement Department at (518) 828-313313.

Sources

  1. Chapter 325: Zoning - City of Hudson, NY (Hudson), quoted and re-checked
  2. Chapter 93: Building Permits - City of Hudson, NY (Hudson), quoted and re-checked
  3. Chapter 93: Building Permits - City of Hudson, NY (Hudson), quoted and re-checked
  4. Sewage Disposal, quoted and re-checked
  5. Chapter 325: Zoning - City of Hudson, NY (Hudson), quoted and re-checked
  6. Chapter 289: Trailers - City of Hudson, NY (Hudson), quoted and re-checked
  7. Article V: Supplementary Regulations - City of Hudson, NY (Hudson), quoted and re-checked
  8. Article V: Supplementary Regulations - City of Hudson, NY (Hudson), quoted and re-checked
  9. Chapter 90: Building Construction - City of Hudson, NY (Hudson), quoted and re-checked
  10. Chapter 93: Building Permits - City of Hudson, NY (Hudson), quoted and re-checked
  11. Chapter 93: Building Permits - City of Hudson, NY (Hudson), quoted and re-checked
  12. Local Building Permits & Land Use Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  13. City of Hudson Code Enforcement Department (cityofhudson.org)
  14. Chapter 93: Building Permits - City of Hudson, NY (Hudson), quoted and re-checked
  15. Chapter 93: Building Permits - City of Hudson, NY (Hudson), quoted and re-checked
  16. Chapter A331: Depressed Curb Driveways - City of Hudson, NY (Hudson), quoted and re-checked
  17. Application for Individual Sewage Treatment, quoted and re-checked
  18. Application for Individual Sewage Treatment System, quoted and re-checked
  19. Columbia County Department of Health, Environmental Health Division (columbiacountyny.gov)
  20. Article V: Supplementary Regulations - City of Hudson, NY (Hudson), quoted and re-checked
  21. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 24, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Hudson

Hudson’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Erection, construction, enlargement, removal, demolition, conversion, or change in occupancy of a building or structure inside Hudson city.

    • Painting, decorating, and ordinary repairs that are not structural in nature are exempt.
    • The permit is obtained from the Building Inspector.
    “without first obtaining a building permit from the Building Inspector for each such building or structure”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Building construction inside the City of Hudson.

    • The City accepts applicability of both the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code and State Energy Conservation Construction Code.
    “The Common Council of the City of Hudson hereby accepts the applicability of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Buildings constructed under Hudson city building permits.

    • Inspection is during construction and at completion to determine safety and conformity with filed plans and specifications and Chapter 93.
    “an examination and inspection of the building in question during its construction work and, at its completion”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Buildings erected inside Hudson city after Chapter 93's operative date.

    • A new building cannot be occupied or used until it is completed according to the filed plans and specifications and a certificate is issued by the Building Inspector.
    “until a certificate of occupancy has been issued by the Building Inspector.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside the City of Hudson limits.

    • Chapter 325 was adopted by the Hudson Common Council; individual development remains subject to district and approval provisions.
    “[HISTORY: Adopted by the Common Council of the City of Hudson 12-10-1968 by L.L. No. 12-1968 (Ch. 121 of the 1973 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning districts inside Hudson city.

    • The City zoning chapter publishes district provisions including R-1, R-2, R-2H, R-3, R-4, R-5, R-S-C, R-S-C-2, C-C, G-C, G-C-T, I-1, C-R, R-C, I-R-C, and R-G.
    “Article II Zoning Districts and Map § 325-2 Establishment of districts. § 325-3 Adoption of map. § 325-4 Interpretation of district and waterfront boundaries.”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Each dwelling unit, including studio apartments, inside Hudson city.

    • The provision expressly sets the same 350-square-foot minimum for non-studio and studio dwelling units.

    minimum dwelling-unit area: >= 350 square feet (Applies to each dwelling unit other than a studio apartment.) · minimum studio-apartment area: >= 350 square feet

    “Each dwelling unit, other than a studio apartment, shall have a minimum area of 350 square feet.”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Trailer coaches, house cars, and automobile trailers used for living or sleeping quarters inside Hudson city.

    • The vehicle must be located in a coach park.
    • One trailer may be parked on a City resident's property only if it is not used for living or sleeping quarters or business purposes and meets the stated setbacks.

    parking setback from sidewalk: >= 25 feet (One non-occupied trailer parked on a City resident's property.) · parking setback from building or structure: >= 10 feet (One non-occupied trailer parked on a City resident's property.)

    “unless such trailer coach, house car or automobile trailer is located in a coach park.”
  • Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

    Accessory dwelling units accessory to one-family dwellings inside Hudson city.

    • Permitted in all zoning districts.
    • Parcel must be the owner's primary domicile at application, and the owner must maintain a primary domicile in the principal dwelling or ADU for at least continuous 12 months from certificate-of-occupancy issuance.
    • Requires a City building permit and certificate of occupancy.
    • Only one ADU per building lot; it must be on a permanent foundation and part of the same tax lot.
    • No separate new driveway access is permitted.
    • Adequate water and sewage disposal must meet Columbia County Department of Health standards.

    owner primary-domicile period: >= 12 months (Measured continuously from issuance of the ADU certificate of occupancy.) · ADUs per building lot: 1

    “An accessory dwelling unit (ADU) is permitted in all zoning districts as an accessory use to one-family dwellings”
  • Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

    Lots proposed for erection of a building inside Hudson city.

    • A building permit cannot issue unless public water supply and public sewerage are available to the lot.
    • The Building Inspector must consult the Commissioner of Public Works, City Engineer, Code Enforcement Officer, and Plumbing Inspector, and withholds issuance until advised that satisfactory water supply and sewage disposal are available.
    “A building permit shall not be issued unless public water supply and public sewerage are available to the lot”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision of land inside Hudson city.

    • Conservation development is authorized in residential districts or districts authorizing residential uses.
    • It is required in the I-R-C District for subdivision of three or more parcels or lots.
    • Applicants may not segment a parcel to avoid that requirement.

    I-R-C subdivision threshold: >= 3 parcels or lots (Conservation development is required.)

    “conservation development is required in the Institutional-Residential Conservation I-R-C District for the subdivision of three or more parcels or lots.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Driveways requiring a depressed curb inside Hudson city.

    • Permission is specifically required to depress a curb; this evidence does not establish an approval requirement for a driveway that does not require curb depression.
    • Residential driveways with depressed curbs may not exceed 10 feet overall width.

    residential depressed-curb driveway maximum width: <= 10 feet (Residential driveways or driveways for individual or private garages where curbs must be depressed.)

    “Permission to depress curb for all driveways must be obtained from the Department of Public Works.”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Construction permits inside Hudson city.

    • An approved construction permit cannot issue until the Common-Council-established fee is paid to the Building Inspector.
    • No charge is made for work done by or for the City or municipally owned buildings, structures, or property.
    “until a fee as established by the Common Council has been paid to the Building Inspector.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Building-permit applications inside Hudson city.

    • Application is made to the Building Inspector on office forms.
    • The applicant must provide listed lot, location, intended-use, work-value, ownership, plans, specifications, and other compliance information.
    • The Building Inspector examines applications and approves or disapproves them within a reasonable time.
    “Application for a building permit shall be made to the Building Inspector on forms provided by his office.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Hudson or Columbia County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Hudson city.
  • Minimum lot size — Residential lots inside Hudson city.
  • Setbacks — Principal residential buildings inside Hudson city.
  • Lot coverage — Residential lots inside Hudson city.
  • Building height — Principal residential buildings inside Hudson city.
9 more unanswered
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Short-term rentals

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Hudson publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Columbia County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Columbia County: county rules, score and offices