ADUs are allowed in Unincorporated James CityTypes:DetachedInternal
Types:DetachedInternal
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Rules for Unincorporated James City, VA
Is your property eligible for an ADU?
# of Properties
34,204
Owner-occupied
75%
Zoning districts
26
Avg Home Value
$496,255
Median Lot Size
0.35 acres
Avg Income
$117,693
Residential Types:
34,204 housing units
Single Family
100%
Zoning Districts:
36,367 parcels · 26 districts
R4
25%(8,911)
R2
23%(8,247)
R1
14%(5,141)
A1
10%(3,644)
Other
29%(10,424)
ADU Rules
What can you build in Unincorporated James City, VA?
Unincorporated James City, 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 of 35% of the floor area of the single-family dwelling
Detached ADU Size Limits
- –Maximum size of 400 sq ft
Max Units
- –Attached (single-family): 1 per dwelling
- –Detached: 1 per lot
Owner Occupancy
- –Owner or immediate family must reside in main dwelling or ADU
Parking
- –3 spaces/ADU; off-street parking required; garages count toward the minimum; may be reduced with an approved mass/alternate transportation plan by the county (documentation and reserve area required).
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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