Unified Sustainable Development Ordinance (USDO)

Albany’s Unified Sustainable Development Ordinance (USDO) is a modernized zoning ordinance, designed to integrate land use regulations with sustainable best practices, such that, it incentivizes quality development that balances the interests of our community with protecting our natural environment. The USDO folds all past development-related regulations and overlays into one readable and user-friendly document—making it easier for property owners to pursue their project development, and for the City to undergo a less onerous review process.

Because this is not an imposing one-size-fits-all regulatory document, it is necessary to periodically review and revise the USDO in order to provide the best suited regulations for new or changing conditions, as they arise.  The process to review and amend USDO text or mapped zoning boundaries is outlined in Section 375-5(E)(24).  The Chief Planning Official is the designated as the Administrator of the USDO.

Read the USDO

Permitted Use Table

Click the link above to read the most recent iteration of the Permitted Use Table.

USDO Documents

  1. USDO Annual Report 2024

Design Workshops

  1. Central-Manning Square Design Workshop
  2. Midtown Design Workshop
  3. New Approaches Design Workshop
  4. Sheridan Hollow Design Workshop
  5. South End Design Workshop
  6. Warehouse District Design Workshop

USDO Text Amendments

#
 Summary Topic
 Review Status
0001 Use Regulations Applicable to Methadone Dispensaries Inactive
0002 New Use Classification: Blood Plasma Center Withdrawn
0003 CUP requirement for 3-Unit Townhouses in R-T Distrct Inactive
0004 Size of Signage in Residential District and Obsolete Signs Adopted
0005 CUP allowance for Artisan Manufacturing in MU-NE District Withdrawn
0006 Alteration of Boundaries of the FP-O District Adopted
0007 Amendments to the USDO pursuant to the initial evaluation period
Inactive
0008 Telcom Installations Inactive
0009 Green-Blue Roof Incentive Suspension
Adopted
0010 USDO Copyedits and Renumbering
 Adopted
0011 New Use Classification: Blood Plasma Center Adopted
0012 Parking lots as a conditional use in MU-CU Districts Adopted
0013 Planning Board waivers / Conditions for issuance of a permit Adopted
0014 Extension of Low-Impact Development Incentives Adopted
0015 Administration and Enforcement of Development Waivers Adopted
0016 Maximum Number of Dwelling Units in the MU-NC Districts Adopted
0017 Regulations for Smoke & Vape Shops Adopted
0018 Allowance of Commercial Food Preparation as a Use Adopted
0019 Allowance of Single-, Two-, and Three-Unit Detached Dwellings in the MU-CI Districts Adopted
0020 Revisions to the Sign Code - Number, Size and Location of Signs Adopted
0021 Expanding the Affordable Housing Incentives Adopted
0022 Revisions to Cabaret License  Adopted
0023 Accessory Dwelling Units and Associated Use-Specific Standards Adopted
0024 Exceptions for Vehicle Fueling Stations Adopted
0025 Revisions to the Determination of Status of Nonconformity Process Adopted
0026 Repeal of Chapter 303 (Sidewalk & Outdoor Cafes)  Adopted

USDO Map Amendments

#
 Properties Affected
 Existing Zone
Proposed Zone
Review Status
0001 10-15 Krank St, 4-12 Leonard St & 7-15 Scott St R-M MU-NE Withdrawn
0002 151 & 153 Grand St
 MU-FS
 LC Adopted
0003 42-44 Philip St, 140 Hamilton St R-T MU-NC Adopted
0004 180 Sheridan Avenue
 R-T MU-CU Adopted
0005 23 & 22-28 Dove St, 293 State St R-T
 MU-NE Withdrawn
0006 1144 Western Avenue
 R-M MU-NC Inactive
0007 76-90 Second Ave, 2-32 Leonard St, Scott St, 10-45 Krank St
 MU-NE; R-T
 MU-CI Adopted
0008 1057 & 1061 Washington Ave
 MU-NC R-2 Inactive
0009 77-85 Sherman St R-2 MU-CU Adopted
0010 89-95 Clinton St, 94 Clinton St, and 117 Fourth Ave R-T MU-NE Withdrawn
0011 60 Fourth Ave MU-FS I-1 Withdrawn
0012 1349 Broadway and 1355 Broadway MU-CU I-1 Withdrawn
0013 27 Main St MU-NC I-1 Adopted
0014 924 & 944 Central Ave, 64 Colvin Ave, 67-111 Colvin Ave MU-CU MU-CH; MU-NC Adopted
0015 280 Mount Hope Dr MU-CI MU-CH Adopted
0016 184-196 Livingston Ave R-T MU-NE Adopted
0017 139 Lark St R-T MU-NE Adopted
0018 31 Trinity Pl R-T MU-NE Adopted
0019 164 Delaware LC MU-NE Under Review
0020 540 Myrtle Ave R-2 R-M Adopted