Plus One ADU Home Program

The Plus One ADU Home Program provides funds to assist Ulster County low-moderate income property owners with grants of up to $125,000 to construct or rehab code-compliant Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU).

The Plus One ADU Home Program provides funding to create new code-compliant Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU). Homeowners who meet the low and moderate-income threshold (i.e., earning 100% or less of Ulster County Area Media Income) can apply to receive up to $125,000 dollars for the construction or rehabilitation of an ADU. In exchange, the property owner will agree to rent the apartment at an affordable rate for a minimum of 10 years.

The term Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) refers to all forms of additional units on residential properties and may be either attached (internal) to the primary residence (e.g., basement apartment) or detached (external) from the primary residence (e.g., garage conversion, cottage). Among many other benefits, ADUs can provide rental income to homeowners and offer an affordable way for renters to live in residential neighborhoods or can help older residents “age in place.”

The Program is part of Ulster County’s broader effort to address housing issues that include:

1. Improving access to housing through first-time homebuyer assistance and funding for affordable housing projects;
2. Improving the quality of existing housing through rehabilitation of both rental and owner-occupied housing;
3. Addressing barriers to the creation of housing through the Housing Smart Communities Initiative aimed at local land use controls;
4. Investment in housing-related infrastructure (water, sewer, roads) that allows projects to move forward;
5. Making available County owned properties for housing development; and
6. Utilizing tax-foreclosed properties to provide homeownership opportunities for low and moderate-income families.

What are ADUs and What Do They Do?

What’s an ADU?

The term accessory dwelling unit (ADU) refers to all forms of additional units on residential properties and may be either attached (internal) to the primary residence (e.g., basement apartment) or detached (external) from the primary residence (e.g., garage conversion, cottage).

What Do They Do?

• Enable family members (including family caregivers) to reside on the same property while having their own living spaces.
• Provide housing for a hired caregiver.
• Provide rental income to homeowners.
• Help older residents remain independent and “age in place.”
• Provide an adaptable form of housing, ADUs provide flexible solutions for changing needs.

Program Benefits

As part of the project team’s continued work to address the housing crisis, this program will increase the supply of workforce and affordable housing in Ulster County. In recognition of the nation’s historically unjust and discriminatory housing practices and the ongoing negative correlations between race, ethnicity, wealth, and homeownership, the Plus One Home Program will also focus on expanding access to equity-building tools (i.e., secondary rental apartments) for low and moderate-income homeowners with an emphasis on supporting historically disadvantaged communities and in locations with existing water and sewer infrastructure.

The Plus One Home Program will support the County and State’s goal of reducing economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent from 1990 levels by 2050. Secondary apartment units generally use less building materials, energy, and land compared to traditional home construction. When built in or near towns and village centers, ADUs can also provide more opportunities for walking, biking, and access to public transit services when compared to traditional single-family homes.

Important ADU Program Information

What and where are the utilities on your lot?

A large cost of an ADU, particularly a detached one like a small structure in your backyard, can be utility hookups. If you have a septic tank, you need to make sure you know where it is and what capacity it has. You’ll also need to connect to existing water and electric lines.

What is your zoning?

To build an ADU, you’ll need to understand what zone or transect (City of Kingston) you are in, what setbacks apply to your lot, and what type of building type you already have on your site. You can find your zoning at the Ulster County parcel-viewer, your Town land use plan, or the Engage Kingston, Kingston Forward site.

What is your budget?

Some of the things you need to consider in your budget are site work (landscape, excavation, utility hookup), construction and design fees (permits, drawings, architects, contractor), material costs (the actual materials). Make sure to include an extra buffer as a contingency. You should think about how you plan to use the ADU and if you will be receiving any income to offset these costs, as well as budget for regular maintenance.

How are you going to use and manage your ADU?

ADUs provide another living unit on your property. You can use this for extended family or rent it out to any resident. ADUs may not be used as short term rentals in the City of Kingston. Based on your decision, you’ll need to think about what it takes to be a landlord and the responsibilities and costs associated with that (advertising the property, legal paperwork, liabilities, property management and maintenance, etc.).