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Macon-Bibb County, GA Accessory Structures: ADU Owner Occupancy (2026)

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

Key Facts

Core requirement
Owner must live in main house or ADU
Permit type affected
ADU conditional use approval
Section
CLDR § 23.01.01[1]
Related condition
Septic capacity must serve both units, §[9]
Last amended
Resolution of December 9, 2024

Summary

Macon-Bibb County will not permit an accessory dwelling unit unless the property owner actually lives on site. Section 23.01.01[1] of the Comprehensive Land Development Resolution makes owner residency, in either the principal house or the ADU itself, a condition of getting an ADU permitted at all.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Macon-Bibb County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

[1]Property Owner occupancy required: Property owner residency in either the primary or accessory dwelling unit shall be a requirement for permitting of accessory dwelling units.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Comprehensive Land Development Resolution: Supplement 4 | Code of Ordinances: Supplement 20).

Full Breakdown

' In practice this means Macon-Bibb County will not issue a conditional use approval or building permit for an ADU on a lot the owner does not live on, whether the owner chooses to live in the main house and rent the ADU or live in the ADU and rent the main house. 01[9]). 11 never reaches the merits without the occupancy showing. The whole section, including the owner-occupancy limitation, was readopted in its entirety by a resolution the Macon-Bibb County Commission adopted December 9, 2024.

Violations & Fines

An ADU permitted on the strength of owner-occupancy that is later occupied entirely by tenants with the owner living elsewhere no longer meets Section 23.01.01[1]; the Macon-Bibb County Planning and Zoning Commission can treat the conditional use as violated and pursue the same enforcement remedies available for any noncompliant conditional use, including revocation of the certificate of zoning compliance for the accessory unit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I build an ADU and rent out both units to tenants?
No. Section 23.01.01[1] requires the property owner to reside in either the primary residence or the accessory dwelling unit as a condition of permitting the ADU at all; renting out both units with the owner living elsewhere does not satisfy the requirement.
Which unit does the owner have to live in, the house or the ADU?
Either one. Section 23.01.01[1] only requires that the property owner reside in the primary or the accessory dwelling unit, so an owner can live in the ADU and rent the main house, or live in the main house and rent the ADU.
What happens if the owner moves out and stops living on the property?
The ADU falls out of compliance with the owner-occupancy condition in Section 23.01.01[1] that Macon-Bibb County attached to its permit, and the Planning and Zoning Commission can enforce the conditional-use requirements against the property the same as it would for any other conditional use gone out of compliance.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Macon-Bibb County

ADU RulesSome RestrictionsShed & Carport RulesSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Decibel LimitsSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Aircraft NoiseSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Leaf Blower RulesSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Fence Permit RequirementsSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Veterinary Clinic ZoningSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Mandatory Spay/NeuterSignificant Restrictions

All Macon-Bibb County rules

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