ADUs are allowed in AnchorageTypes:DetachedInternal
Types:DetachedInternal
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Rules for Anchorage, AK
Is your property eligible for an ADU?
# of Properties
90,357
Owner-occupied
64%
Zoning districts
127
Avg Home Value
$423,728
Median Lot Size
0.24 acres
Avg Income
$125,997
Residential Types:
90,357 housing units
Single Family
63%
2-3 Family
7%
Apts (4+ units)
23%
Other
7%
Zoning Districts:
100,654 parcels · 127 districts
R-1
17%(17,299)
R-2M
13%(13,556)
R-3
9%(9,445)
R-1A
6%(6,273)
Other
54%(54,081)
ADU Rules
What can you build in Anchorage, AK?
Anchorage, AK follows state and local rules for Accessory Dwelling Units. Here is a concise overview of the local rules.
Eligibility
- –Internal / Attached ADU: By Right
- –Detached ADU: By Right
Interior / Attached ADU Size Limits
- –Anchorage Bowl: For an internal ADU, the maximum size is the greater of 900 sq ft or 40% of the principal dwelling’s gross floor area.
- –Anchorage Bowl: Internal ADU size is capped at an absolute maximum of 1,200 sq ft.
- –Girdwood: Internal ADU maximum size is 900 sq ft.
- –Chugiak–Eagle River: For an internal ADU, the maximum size is the greater of 1,000 sq ft or 40% of the principal dwelling’s gross floor area.
Detached ADU Size Limits
- –Anchorage Bowl: Maximum is the greater of 900 sq ft or 40% of the principal dwelling’s gross floor area, capped at 1,200 sq ft (excludes Girdwood and Chugiak–Eagle River).
- –Girdwood: Maximum size of 900 sq ft.
- –Chugiak–Eagle River: Maximum is the greater of 1,000 sq ft or 40% of the principal dwelling’s gross floor area.
Max Units
- –1 ADU per parcel/lot (municipality-wide)
- –1 ADU per single-family residential lot (Girdwood)
Owner Occupancy
- –No owner-occupancy requirement.
Parking
- –0 off-street parking required for ADUs; exemptions may apply (ADA spaces, loading, bicycle parking); any parking provided must meet design standards (Sec. 21.07.090H).
What's allowed on your lot?
These are the municipality-wide rules. What's allowed on a specific property also depends on state laws, setbacks, floor area ratio, lot coverage, environmental constraints, topography, and other property-specific factors. Search your address on FutureLot to see what's allowed on your property.
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