ADUs are allowed in AltavistaTypes:DetachedInternal
Types:DetachedInternal
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Rules for Altavista, VA
Is your property eligible for an ADU?
# of Properties
2,852
Owner-occupied
54%
Zoning districts
10
Median Lot Size
0.21 acres
Avg Income
$50,683
Residential Types:
3,063 housing units
Single Family
85%
2-3 Family
7%
Apts (4+ units)
7%
Zoning Districts:
2,848 parcels · 10 districts
R-2
34%(965)
R-1
34%(965)
C-2
24%(676)
M
7%(189)
Other
2%(53)
ADU Rules
What can you build in Altavista, VA?
Altavista, VA 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: Special Permit
Interior / Attached ADU Size Limits
- –Maximum size is the lesser of 50% of the principal dwelling’s finished floor area or 1,000 sq ft.
Detached ADU Size Limits
- –Maximum size of 1,000 sq ft
- –Maximum size of 50% of the principal dwelling’s finished floor area
Max Units
- –1 ADU per lot (single-family detached); 0 per lot (duplex and multifamily); 1 ADU per lot (non-residential sites)
Owner Occupancy
- –Owner must reside on the premises.
Parking
- –Minimum determined case-by-case under Schedule B; no fixed ADU min or max; exceptions: no uniform reductions; off-street parking required before CO when the ADU use is established or intensified.
Rental Restrictions
- –Short-term rentals (<30 days) prohibited; only members of the owner's family may reside in the ADU.
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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ADU rules in other Virginia municipalities
Rules change at the town line. Check the municipality your property is actually in.
Campbell County