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ADUs are allowed in Unincorporated Catawba
Types:DetachedInternal

Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Rules for Unincorporated Catawba, NC

Is your property eligible for an ADU?

# of Properties
232
Owner-occupied
60%
Zoning districts
54
Avg Home Value
$213,045
Median Lot Size
0.58 acres
Avg Income
$84,572
Residential Types:
232 housing units
Residential
100%
Zoning Districts:
53,924 parcels · 54 districts
R-40
33%(17,536)
R-20
32%(17,475)
R-30
15%(8,197)
R-1
6%(2,996)
Other
14%(7,720)

ADU Rules

What can you build in Unincorporated Catawba, NC?

Unincorporated Catawba, NC follows state and local rules for Accessory Dwelling Units. Here is a concise overview of the local rules.

Interior / Attached ADU Size Limits

  • Maximum internal ADU size is 650 sq ft or 50% of the principal dwelling’s heated floor area, whichever is greater, when the principal is stick-built or modular.
  • If the principal dwelling is a manufactured home, the internal ADU must be smaller than the principal dwelling.

Detached ADU Size Limits

  • If the principal home is stick-built or modular, the detached ADU may be up to the greater of 650 sq ft or 50% of the principal home’s gross heated floor area.
  • If the principal home is a manufactured home, the detached ADU must be smaller than the principal home’s square footage.

Max Units

  • 1 ADU per single deeded lot

Owner Occupancy

  • Owner must reside in one dwelling or on an adjacent parcel

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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Is your property eligible for an ADU?

ADU rules in other North Carolina municipalities

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

Catawba County