ADUs are allowed in MatthewsTypes:DetachedInternal
Types:DetachedInternal
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Rules for Matthews, NC
Is your property eligible for an ADU?
# of Properties
10,730
Owner-occupied
6%
Zoning districts
49
Avg Home Value
$753,565
Median Lot Size
0.35 acres
Avg Income
$119,642
Residential Types:
10,730 housing units
Single Family
95%
Apts (4+ units)
2%
Other
4%
Zoning Districts:
11,366 parcels · 49 districts
R-15
35%(4,022)
R-12
24%(2,739)
R-VS
11%(1,254)
R-9
6%(722)
Other
23%(2,629)
ADU Rules
What can you build in Matthews, NC?
Matthews, 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 900 sq ft
- –Maximum size of 50% of the principal dwelling’s gross floor area
Detached ADU Size Limits
- –Maximum size limited to 50% of the primary dwelling’s heated floor area
- –Maximum size limited to 50% of the principal dwelling’s gross floor area
- –Absolute maximum size of 900 sq ft
Max Units
- –Internal ADU on single-family lot: 1 per lot (total 2 dwelling units per lot).
- –Detached ADU on single-family lot: 1 per lot (total 2 dwelling units per lot); primary structure may not contain an ADU.
Owner Occupancy
- –One unit must be owner-occupied; primary dwelling owner-occupied if separate building.
Parking
- –1 space/ADU; max none; off-street on-site unless an approved alternative; driveways may count on single-family lots without garages; HUC downtown reductions with frontage exemptions; MUD reductions/credits for nearby public/on-street spaces with approval.
Rental Restrictions
- –Room renting inside an accessory apartment is prohibited; detached ADUs cannot be rented as a whole-house STR in certain zones; when permitted, STRs for ADUs are allowed only as Homestays with the host on-site, primary residence, 800‑ft separation, and zoning permit.
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.
Mecklenburg County