ADUs are allowed in Unincorporated DurhamTypes:DetachedInternal
Types:DetachedInternal
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Rules for Unincorporated Durham, NC
Is your property eligible for an ADU?
# of Properties
22,863
Owner-occupied
55%
Zoning districts
45
Avg Home Value
$354,241
Median Lot Size
0.57 acres
Avg Income
$110,272
Residential Types:
22,863 housing units
Single Family
64%
Other
35%
Zoning Districts:
27,034 parcels · 45 districts
RR
56%(15,078)
PDR
16%(4,297)
RS-20
15%(4,130)
RS-10
5%(1,280)
Other
8%(2,249)
ADU Rules
What can you build in Unincorporated Durham, NC?
Unincorporated Durham, 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 heated floor area: 1,000 sq ft if single story; otherwise 1,200 sq ft. In RR on lots at least 4 acres, up to 50% of the primary dwelling’s heated area, and always less than the primary dwelling’s area.
Detached ADU Size Limits
- –Maximum size 1,200 sq ft (or 1,000 sq ft if one story); in RR on lots of 4+ acres, up to 50% of the primary home’s habitable floor area; in all cases, the ADU must be smaller than the primary home.
Owner Occupancy
- –Owner-occupancy is not required.
Parking
- –0 spaces/ADU; no max; exceptions: no additional parking for ADUs accessory to certain civic uses; Neighborhood Protection Overlay also exempts ADUs from off-street parking.
Rental Restrictions
- –Short-term rentals (<30 days) prohibited; long-term rentals permitted
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.
Durham County