Acworth, GA Accessory Structures: ADU Rules (2026)

2 defines an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) as a smaller, independently habitable secondary home, providing its own shelter, heating, cooking, and sanitation, on the same lot as a primary single-family detached dwelling; the code names "garden cottages" as the covered type, which can be a converted garage, a second-story garage apartment, or new construction. Subsection (B)'s general provisions cap a lot at one ADU at a time and limit its area to no more than 50 percent of the principal structure's footprint. Side-facing windows are restricted: none are permitted facing an adjacent property unless placed at least 20 linear feet from the nearest property line.

4 rules. Height is tied to the main house: an ADU cannot exceed the primary structure's relative elevation. Before construction, the lot must already have a six-foot privacy fence along the side and rear property lines, which may begin at the rear edge of the primary building, and any balcony or porch on the ADU must be enclosed on three sides with its opening facing the primary house. The ADU's facade must match the principal structure's facade. 2 sets a more specific standard, such as the 50-percent footprint cap that supersedes the general accessory-structure area rule.