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ADUs are allowed in Unincorporated New Castle
Types:DetachedInternal

Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Rules for Unincorporated New Castle, DE

Is your property eligible for an ADU?

# of Properties
148,675
Owner-occupied
77%
Zoning districts
38
Median Lot Size
0.22 acres
Avg Income
$115,866
Residential Types:
148,675 housing units
Other
100%
Zoning Districts:
151,739 parcels · 38 districts
NC6.5
29%(43,500)
NC21
13%(19,552)
S
11%(17,240)
NC5
8%(12,821)
Other
39%(58,626)

ADU Rules

What can you build in Unincorporated New Castle, DE?

Unincorporated New Castle, DE follows state and local rules for Accessory Dwelling Units. Here is a concise overview of the local rules.

Detached ADU Size Limits

  • For lots under 1 acre, a detached ADU’s floor area may not exceed the principal dwelling’s footprint; detached ADUs are not permitted on lots smaller than 0.5 acre; no size cap is stated for lots 1 acre or larger.

Max Units

  • Single-family detached: 1 ADU/lot (internal/attached; detached only if lot ≥0.5 ac).
  • Townhouse/duplex/multifamily: none specified.

Owner Occupancy

  • Owner must reside in either the principal dwelling unit or the ADU.

Parking

  • 1 space per ADU; garage may count toward required off-street parking; Transect districts may impose different per-dwelling minimums

Rental Restrictions

  • Only one of the two dwelling units on the lot may be rented at a time; the other must be owner-occupied.

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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ADU rules in other Delaware municipalities

Rules change at the town line. Check the municipality your property is actually in.

New Castle County