Greensboro, NC Accessory Structures: ADU Owner Occupancy (2026)

2, an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) is treated as an accessory use to the primary residence, not as a separately marketable property. Clause B states plainly that ownership of an ADU shall not be transferred apart from its primary dwelling unit, meaning an owner cannot subdivide the lot's title to sell the ADU to a different buyer or place it under a separate deed while keeping the main house. This is a title-unity rule, not an owner-occupancy mandate: Greensboro's code does not say the property owner must reside on site, so an investor can own the parcel and rent out both the primary dwelling and the ADU to tenants, as long as both stay on one deed.

The same section caps ADUs at one per lot (Clause C), limits heated floor area to no more than 50% of the primary dwelling's floor area (Clause E), requires the unit be on a permanent foundation and not a manufactured home (Clause F), and bars using a travel trailer or RV as an ADU in a residential district or on residentially used property (Clause H). No additional off-street parking is required for the ADU (Clause G). These standards were most recently amended by Ord. 21-076 on 6/15/21, effective 6/15/2021, and apply citywide unless the base zoning district states otherwise.