ADUs are allowed in BurlingtonTypes:DetachedInternal
Types:DetachedInternal
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Rules for Burlington, NC
Is your property eligible for an ADU?
# of Properties
19,194
Owner-occupied
67%
Zoning districts
24
Avg Home Value
$283,265
Median Lot Size
0.27 acres
Avg Income
$66,523
Residential Types:
19,194 housing units
Single Family
89%
2-3 Family
2%
Apts (4+ units)
5%
Condos
3%
Other
1%
Zoning Districts:
23,253 parcels · 24 districts
MDR
53%(12,253)
HDR
24%(5,677)
MX
6%(1,458)
CR
5%(1,089)
Other
12%(2,776)
ADU Rules
What can you build in Burlington, NC?
Burlington, NC 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 50% of the principal dwelling’s finished floor area.
Detached ADU Size Limits
- –Maximum size of 50% of the finished floor area of the principal structure
Max Units
- –1 ADU per lot (single-family detached)
Owner Occupancy
- –No owner-occupancy requirement.
Parking
- –No minimum or maximum parking specified for ADUs; driveways may be used to meet ADU parking; ADU and principal dwelling must use the same driveway unless the ADU has separate ROW access; CBD exemption from minimum off-street parking; ADU not listed in the minimum parking table.
ADU State Law
What can you build in North Carolina?
- –North Carolina does not have a statewide ADU mandate; ADU rules are set by individual municipalities.
- –Building/fire codes are set statewide, but whether an ADU is allowed is local zoning.
- –There is active proposed legislation (H627 / S495, "Regulation of Accessory Dwelling Units") that would create G.S. 160D-917 and require local governments to allow at least one ADU in certain single-family areas, but it is not enacted.
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 North Carolina municipalities
Rules change at the town line. Check the municipality your property is actually in.
Alamance County