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ADUs are allowed in Unincorporated Albemarle
Types:DetachedInternal

Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Rules for Unincorporated Albemarle, VA

Is your property eligible for an ADU?

# of Properties
46,251
Owner-occupied
76%
Zoning districts
41
Avg Home Value
$670,201
Median Lot Size
1.00 acres
Avg Income
$127,362
Residential Types:
46,251 housing units
Single Family
67%
Other
32%
Zoning Districts:
50,498 parcels · 41 districts
RA
45%(22,930)
PRD
9%(4,766)
R-4
8%(3,847)
NMD
7%(3,319)
Other
31%(15,636)

ADU Rules

What can you build in Unincorporated Albemarle, VA?

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

Interior / Attached ADU Size Limits

  • –Maximum size of an internal/attached accessory apartment is 35% of the principal dwelling's gross floor area.

Detached ADU Size Limits

  • –Detached ADUs (backyard cottages) are prohibited; maximum allowed building area is 0 sq ft.

Max Units

  • –Single-family detached: 1 internal ADU per lot
  • –Detached ADU: 0

Owner Occupancy

  • –Owner must reside in the dwelling or the accessory unit

Parking

  • –No ADU-specific parking min/max; on-street spaces may count toward the minimum; shared parking may reduce the aggregate minimum by up to 35%; garage spaces may count; some districts/overlays modify general parking rules.

Rental Restrictions

  • –Detached ADU: Short-term rentals prohibited by right; may be allowed by special exception with hosted stays (1 homestay per parcel, up to 2 guest rooms).
  • –Internal/Attached ADU: Short-term rentals allowed with hosted stays; owner must reside on the parcel 180 days/year; 1 homestay per parcel, up to 2 guest rooms.

ADU State Law

What can you build in Virginia?

  • –Virginia 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.
  • –SB 304 would have mandated ADUs. It passed the Virginia Senate in 2024 but was continued/left in House committee (i.e., not enacted statewide)

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 Virginia municipalities

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

Albemarle County

Scottsville
See all municipalities in Albemarle County →See all Virginia municipalities →
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