FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 30, 2026
Mayor Noble Announces City of Kingston & Ulster County to Host ADU Expo
KINGSTON, NY – Mayor Steven T. Noble is pleased to announce that, in collaboration with the Kingston Housing Task Force and Ulster County, the City of Kingston will host a free Accessory Dwelling Unit Expo on Friday, April 10, 2026, at the Andy Murphy Neighborhood Center.
Mayor Noble said, “We are so proud here in Kingston to be one of the first municipalities in New York State to implement tax breaks for building ADUs, and have been creative in our approach to encourage homeowners, by launching an ADU design contest, the winner of which provides Kingston residents with a ready-to-go building plan for their own backyard. Due to these innovative efforts, in 2025 the City of Kingston approved a record number of accessory dwelling units. We are looking forward to hosting this expo and connecting with homeowners, advocates, and anyone interested in ADUs.”
The Accessory Dwelling Unit Expo will bring together homeowners and residents interested in ADUs as a housing solution with builders, architects, designers, and policymakers. Additional hands-on workshops and expert panels are expected to be announced soon.
The term ADU includes all forms of additional units on residential properties and may be either attached to the primary residence (e.g., basement apartment) or detached 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.
“Accessory dwelling units are one of the most practical tools we have to expand rental housing and create small-scale, affordable places for people to live. At the same time, ADUs help existing homeowners by providing an additional source of income to pay the bills and to age in place. It’s truly a win-win on the housing affordability front, and I want to thank the City of Kingston and Housing Task Force for organizing the Expo to encourage homeowners to explore this option and equip them with the information and inspiration to move forward,” said Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger. “At the county level, we have been actively encouraging ADUs, providing assistance to local governments to create ADU-friendly zoning as well as direct financial support and tax incentives to homeowners, and the City of Kingston has been a real champion and partner in these efforts.”
Bartek Starodaj, Director of Housing Initiatives, said, “Kingston and Ulster County have emerged as leaders in advancing accessory dwelling units as a practical and equitable housing solution. This expo will give homeowners and residents the tools, guidance, and connections they need to turn ADU ideas into reality.”
“As part of our commitment to Ulster County’s Housing Smart Communities initiative, the City of Kingston Housing Task Force hosted a series of community sessions that made it clear there is strong interest in building accessory dwelling units, but many residents were unsure where to begin or how to navigate the process. This Expo is a direct response to that need. We are proud to provide homeowners with the guidance, resources, and local connections necessary to move forward with confidence and build ADUs that support their families and strengthen our community.”
Accessory Dwelling Unit Expo
April 10, 2026
12:00pm – 6:00pm
Andy Murphy Neighborhood Center
467 Broadway
Kingston, NY
Free to attend, registration recommended
Attendance is free, but registration is recommended. Please RSVP here.
Builders, architects, and anyone that could help Ulster County and/or City of Kingston homeowners build ADU projects interested in being a vendor is welcome. Please submit a vendor interest form here or contact [email protected] with any questions.
In 2023, the City of Kingston legalized ADUs citywide with its new form-based zoning code, and launched an ADU design competition to provide a free, permit-ready ADU blueprint for Kingston residents. In 2024, the City of Kingston was the first municipality statewide to implement a tax break for new accessory dwelling units, and was joined by Ulster County in 2025. Kingston homeowners have also benefited from RUPCO’s ADU Plus One Program, which provides grants to low-moderate income property owners to create new ADUs. To date, 17 ADUs have been approved in the City of Kingston.