ADUs are allowed in Elizabeth CityTypes:DetachedInternal
Types:DetachedInternal
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Rules for Elizabeth City, NC
Is your property eligible for an ADU?
# of Properties
7,629
Owner-occupied
52%
Zoning districts
27
Avg Home Value
$141,684
Median Lot Size
0.19 acres
Avg Income
$56,153
Residential Types:
7,629 housing units
Residential
100%
Zoning Districts:
9,196 parcels · 27 districts
R-6
29%(2,703)
R-8
26%(2,431)
R-10
13%(1,231)
R-15
9%(831)
Other
22%(2,000)
ADU Rules
What can you build in Elizabeth City, NC?
Elizabeth City, 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 25% of the principal building’s heated floor area
- –Maximum size of 50% of the principal dwelling’s gross floor area
Detached ADU Size Limits
- –Maximum size of 50% of the gross floor area of the principal dwelling
Max Units
- –1 ADU per single-family lot; 0 ADUs on two-family or multi-family or family care home lots.
Owner Occupancy
- –No owner-occupancy requirement.
Parking
- –1 space per attached ADU; 2 spaces per detached ADU (in addition to principal dwelling); CB district exempt; permit may allow deviations with reasons noted on the permit
Rental Restrictions
- –Short-term whole-house lodging limited to 29 days; only one per lot.
- –Homestay: owner must reside; only one per lot; guests limited to 29 days.
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.
Pasquotank County