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Louisville, KY Accessory Structures: ADU Owner Occupancy (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Owner-occupancy
Owner must live in principal or ADU
Short-term rental
Prohibited for approved ADUs
Max ADU size
800 sq ft or 30% of main house
Eligible zones
R-R, R-E, R-1–R-5, U-N
Per lot
One ADU, attached or detached

Summary

Louisville Metro requires the property owner to live in either the main house or the accessory dwelling unit, and bars ADUs from short-term rental use.

J. The owner of the property shall reside within either the principal or the accessory dwelling unit. ... F. ADUs approved under this provision shall not be used as a short term rental.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-47: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ordinances passed by the Council and approved by the Mayor as of July 1, 2026).

Full Breakdown

Under the Land Development Code's accessory dwelling unit standards, the owner of a property with an ADU must reside in either the principal structure or the accessory unit itself: renting out both simultaneously to non-owners isn't allowed. The code separately bars any approved ADU from being used as a short-term rental. ADUs are capped at 800 square feet or 30% of the principal structure's floor area, whichever is larger, and are permitted only in the R-R, R-E, R-1 through R-5, and U-N residential zoning districts.

Violations & Fines

Planning & Design Services and Codes & Regulations enforce compliance; a property with an unresolved zoning, property maintenance, or building code violation in the prior 12 months must get director-level review and clear the violation before an ADU application is approved.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I rent out both my house and my ADU to tenants in Louisville Metro?
No. The owner must occupy either the principal structure or the accessory dwelling unit: you can't rent out both to non-owners.
Can a Louisville Metro ADU be used as an Airbnb?
No. ADUs approved under this provision are barred from short-term rental use, separate from the owner-occupancy requirement.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Louisville

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All Louisville rules

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