ADUs are allowed in AshevilleTypes:DetachedInternal
Types:DetachedInternal
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Rules for Asheville, NC
Is your property eligible for an ADU?
# of Properties
34,615
Owner-occupied
58%
Zoning districts
61
Avg Home Value
$512,339
Median Lot Size
0.28 acres
Avg Income
$80,946
Residential Types:
34,615 housing units
Single Family
70%
2-3 Family
2%
Apts (4+ units)
3%
Other
26%
Zoning Districts:
40,003 parcels · 61 districts
RS8
26%(10,446)
RS4
20%(8,180)
RM8
17%(6,983)
RM6
10%(4,193)
Other
26%(10,201)
ADU Rules
What can you build in Asheville, NC?
Asheville, 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 1,000 sq ft for an internal or attached ADU
- –Maximum size of 70% of the primary dwelling’s gross floor area for an internal or attached ADU
Detached ADU Size Limits
- –Maximum size of 800 sq ft
- –Maximum size of 70% of the primary dwelling’s gross floor area
Max Units
- –1 ADU per single-family detached lot.
- –0 ADUs on duplex or multifamily lots.
- –Cottage developments: 0 ADUs.
Parking
- –1 space per ADU if off-street parking is required for the primary unit; otherwise none. If triggered, the ADU space must be to the side or rear and outside the front setback; not required in districts with no residential off-street parking (e.g., CBD).
Rental Restrictions
- –Detached ADUs may not be used for homestays (short-term rentals); only pre-12/14/2021 homestays may continue if the permit/use is maintained.
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.
Buncombe County