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ADUs are allowed in Charlotte
Types:DetachedInternal

Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Rules for Charlotte, NC

Is your property eligible for an ADU?

# of Properties
323,511
Owner-occupied
8%
Zoning districts
4
Avg Home Value
$829,423
Median Lot Size
0.24 acres
Avg Income
$101,481
Residential Types:
323,511 housing units
Single Family
94%
Apts (4+ units)
3%
Other
3%
Zoning Districts:
33 parcels · 4 districts
N1-A
76%(25)
MX-1
12%(4)
R-4(CD)
9%(3)
R-12MF(CD)
3%(1)

ADU Rules

What can you build in Charlotte, NC?

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

Detached ADU Size Limits

  • –Maximum size is the greater of 600 sq ft or 70% of the principal dwelling’s total floor area.
  • –In all cases the ADU may not exceed 1,000 sq ft.

Max Units

  • –Single-family lot: 1 ADU per lot (no variation by ADU type)
  • –Duplex lot (not on sublots): 1 ADU per lot; duplex lot (on sublots): 0 per lot
  • –Cottage court: 0 per lot; Other principal residential structures: 0 per lot; JADUs: none specified

Owner Occupancy

  • –ADU and principal dwelling must be under the same ownership.

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.

Mecklenburg County

CorneliusDavidsonHuntersvilleMatthewsPinevilleStallingsUnincorporated Mecklenburg
See all municipalities in Mecklenburg County →See all North Carolina municipalities →
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