ADUs are allowed in BristolTypes:DetachedInternal
Types:DetachedInternal
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Rules for Bristol, VA
Is your property eligible for an ADU?
# of Properties
10,547
Owner-occupied
39%
Zoning districts
23
Avg Home Value
$95,146
Median Lot Size
0.18 acres
Avg Income
$55,176
Residential Types:
10,547 housing units
Single Family
100%
Zoning Districts:
13,695 parcels · 23 districts
R-2
29%(4,031)
R-1
21%(2,899)
R-3
16%(2,171)
B-3
12%(1,684)
Other
21%(2,910)
ADU Rules
What can you build in Bristol, VA?
Bristol, VA follows state and local rules for Accessory Dwelling Units. Here is a concise overview of the local rules.
Eligibility
- –Internal / Attached ADU: Conditional Use Permit
- –Detached ADU: By Right
Interior / Attached ADU Size Limits
- –Maximum ADU size is the lesser of 50% of the principal dwelling’s floor area and the accessory-building cap (the greater of 720 sq ft or 10% of the district’s maximum lot coverage applied to lot area—3% of lot area in R-2 and 4% in R-3).
Detached ADU Size Limits
- –Maximum size is less than 50% of the principal dwelling’s square footage.
- –Maximum size is the greater of 720 sq ft or 10% of the lot’s maximum coverage area (zone-based); this total is shared across all accessory buildings.
Max Units
- –1 ADU per lot (R-2/R-3)
Parking
- –1 space/ADU (2 spaces/ADU if ADU ≥ 360 sq ft), in addition to the parking for the single-family dwelling; limited to lots with a principal single-family dwelling in the R-2 and R-3 districts.
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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