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ADUs are allowed in Unincorporated Bedford
Types:DetachedInternal

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

Is your property eligible for an ADU?

# of Properties
36,160
Owner-occupied
74%
Zoning districts
23
Avg Home Value
$485,300
Median Lot Size
1.30 acres
Avg Income
$80,740
Residential Types:
36,160 housing units
Apts (4+ units)
2%
Other
98%
Zoning Districts:
50,609 parcels · 23 districts
AP
34%(16,955)
R-1
22%(10,977)
AR
14%(6,925)
R-2
13%(6,616)
Other
18%(9,136)

ADU Rules

What can you build in Unincorporated Bedford, VA?

Unincorporated Bedford, 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 1,000 sq ft
  • –Maximum size of 50% of the principal dwelling’s finished floor area

Detached ADU Size Limits

  • –Maximum size is the lesser of 1,000 sq ft or 50% of the principal dwelling’s finished floor area.

Max Units

  • –Single-family detached: 1 ADU per lot; Duplex: 0; Multifamily: 0; Non-residential: 1 ADU per site (for employees responsible for security).

Owner Occupancy

  • –Owner must reside on the premises

Parking

  • –1 space per ADU (in addition to 2 spaces for the primary); no max. Countywide modifications up to 25% may be approved with justification; minimums may be set by an approved Schedule B study.

Rental Restrictions

  • –Short-term rentals prohibited; rentals must be 30+ days

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.

Bedford County

Bedford
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