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Kearny, Hudson County · New Jersey
Can you build an ADU in Kearny, NJ?
An accessory dwelling unit (ADU), a granny flat, in-law suite, or backyard home, can add rental income or family space. Whether Kearny allows one, and how big, comes down to the town’s zoning and your specific lot. Here’s what we know, and how to check yours.
Kearny zoning & ADU rules
Max height (residential)
20 ft
Max stories
1.5
Min lot area
5,000 sf
We've mapped Kearny's residential zoning. An ADU on your lot follows the town's accessory-structure standards: check your specific address for the exact size, height, and setback it allows.
Source: https://ecode360.com/36027729?view=browse §Schedule II, Section…
Kearny’s ADU rules, cited
- Kearny does not currently permit ADUs by right, so a variance may be needed.
Sources: Town of Kearny Code Chapter 38 (Zoning), Section 38-1.3 (Purpose), Schedule I District Use Regulations (38 Attachment 1, amended 6-23-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-12) and Section 38-6.2 (Accessory Uses in Residential Zones). Read 2026-10-03 from the zoneomics mirror of the ecode360 text and its copy of the Schedule I attachment PDF (ecode360 returns 403 to direct fetch). Section 38-1.3 makes the ordinance permissive: no use is permitted that is not listed as a permitted or accessory use in the Use Schedule. Schedule I permits in R-1 and R-1M only single-family detached dwellings, and in R-2 also two-family dwellings; the listed residential accessory uses are a private garage, signs, home occupations, pools, satellite dishes and 'accessory uses customarily incidental to a permitted principal use'. No accessory dwelling unit or accessory apartment use is listed.
See exactly what your lot allowsAccessory dwelling units (ADUs) in Kearny, New Jersey
New Jersey has no single statewide ADU law. Each of the state's 564 municipalities, Kearny (Hudson County, NJ) included, sets its own zoning for accessory dwelling units (granny flats, in-law suites, backyard homes). Whether you can build one in Kearny, how big, and how tall depends on the town's ordinance and your specific lot. We've mapped Kearny's residential zoning: buildings are capped around 20 ft / 1.5 stories, with a minimum lot area near 5,000 sf. Your ADU follows the town's accessory-structure standards on top of that.
Backyard homes that could fit a Kearny lot
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ADU FAQ
Can I build an ADU in Kearny, NJ?
Kearny sets its own ADU rules, and we've mapped its residential zoning. Whether your specific lot qualifies, and how big an ADU it allows, comes down to your parcel's size, setbacks, and the accessory-structure standards. Check your Kearny address to see for sure, free.
How much does an ADU cost in Kearny?
A detached ADU in Kearny typically runs $150,000 to $300,000+ all-in depending on size, site, and finishes. The build is financed and the rent helps carry the loan. You own the home.
Do I need to live on-site to build an ADU in Kearny?
Some NJ towns require owner-occupancy; others (like Jersey City) don't. We check Kearny's specific ordinance for you when you run your address.
See exactly what your Kearny lot allows
Enter your address and we read Kearny’s zoning against your parcel and tell you if an ADU fits, how big, and what it could earn. Free.
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