ADUs are allowed in ColumbiaTypes:DetachedInternal
Types:DetachedInternal
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Rules for Columbia, MO
Is your property eligible for an ADU?
# of Properties
38,954
Owner-occupied
63%
Zoning districts
13
Avg Home Value
$199,349
Median Lot Size
0.26 acres
Avg Income
$94,528
Residential Types:
38,954 housing units
Single Family
86%
2-3 Family
8%
Apts (4+ units)
3%
Other
3%
Zoning Districts:
42,192 parcels · 13 districts
R-1
61%(25,725)
PD
12%(5,207)
R-2
11%(4,548)
R-MF
9%(3,591)
Other
7%(3,121)
ADU Rules
What can you build in Columbia, MO?
Columbia, MO 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
- –Maximum size of 800 sq ft
- –Maximum size of 75% of the principal dwelling’s floor area
Detached ADU Size Limits
- –Maximum size of 800 sq ft
- –Maximum size of 75% of the principal dwelling’s total square feet
Max Units
- –1 ADU per lot for principal one-family dwellings; 0 ADU for duplex or multifamily principal structures; 0 ADU in R-2 Cottage developments
- –1 ADU per townhouse in the M-DT district
Owner Occupancy
- –No owner-occupancy requirement.
Parking
- –0 spaces for ADUs up to 2 bedrooms; 1 space for a 3-bedroom ADU; M-DT exemption for new residential with 20 or fewer bedrooms; transit reductions: 20% within 1/4 mile of transit center; 30% in M-N or M-C zones; ADUs capped at 3 bedrooms.
Rental Restrictions
- –STR: only one dwelling on the property may be registered as an STR at a time; cannot STR both primary and ADU.
- –Max 8 occupants; one STR certificate per owner/authorized tenant; one reservation at a time; business license and STR certificate required; tier-based night limits (Tier1 ≤30/yr; Tier2 ≤120/yr; Tier3 >120/yr in certain zones).
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 Missouri municipalities
Rules change at the town line. Check the municipality your property is actually in.
Boone County