Roseville, MN Accessory Structures: ADU Owner Occupancy (2026)

Section 1011.12(b)(1)c of the Roseville City Code sets the ownership condition for every accessory dwelling unit: either the principal dwelling unit or the ADU shall be owner-occupied, and both dwelling units shall be under unified ownership. The rule works from either direction. An owner can live in the main house and let someone else use the ADU, or live in the ADU and rent out the main house. What the Code does not allow is both units occupied by non-owners, or the two units held by different owners, for instance by splitting title between the house and a garage apartment.

The permit in subsection m reinforces the same point. Each property owner seeking to rent an ADU, or occupy an ADU while renting the principal dwelling unit, shall apply for a new ADU occupancy permit. The permit is a lifetime, non-transferrable permit issued by the Community Development Department, and the property also has to comply with the city's rental registration requirements. A rented ADU is one occupied by a person other than the family, as defined in section 1001.07, occupying the principal dwelling unit.

Ownership change resets the permit. Under subsection m.6, an ADU permit expires upon transfer of the property to a new owner, and continued use of an ADU on a transferred property requires the new owner to apply for a new ADU permit. The Community Development Department can revoke a permit when the permitted ADU or the property fails to meet the permit's requirements or becomes ineligible. Occupation by a person other than the principal household must then cease within 60 days of the revocation. Determinations about continuing compliance or eligibility can be appealed under section 1009.08.