ADU rules in Auburn, AL — also called accessory dwelling unit regulations or granny flat ordinances — cover setbacks, owner-occupancy, parking, and permit requirements.
Auburn permits one accessory dwelling unit per lot only on an owner-occupied single-family property. The ADU is capped at 30 percent of the principal home's floor area or 1,000 square feet (whichever is less), may be up to two stories, and cannot be rented or used as income property.
The City of Auburn's Zoning Ordinance treats accessory dwelling units as a use-specific standard rather than an as-of-right second home. Under the ADU provisions (Article IV use-specific standards, 'Accessory Dwelling Unit'), the unit must be located in an owner-occupied single-family detached home or be a separate structure on the same lot as an owner-occupied single-family dwelling. The ADU must contain its own sleeping room, kitchen, and bathing and toilet facilities adequate for independent residential use. The maximum area is the lower of 30 percent of the floor space in the principal residence or 1,000 square feet. ADUs must meet all setbacks, impervious surface ratio (ISR), floor area ratio (FAR), and other standards of the zoning district where the principal dwelling is located. An ADU may be no more than two stories; if it sits above a garage, the garage counts as the first floor. No more than one ADU is permitted on a single lot of record, all utilities must come from the principal dwelling, and the principal dwelling must remain owner-occupied. Critically, the ADU 'shall not be rented or used as income producing property,' and no waivers or variances are allowed to accommodate an ADU. A zoning certificate is required before construction.
Renting an ADU, building one without owner-occupancy, exceeding the size cap, or constructing without a zoning certificate violates the Zoning Ordinance and can trigger code-enforcement action and orders to cease use or correct the structure. No variances are available to excuse non-compliance.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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See how Auburn's adu rules rules stack up against other locations.
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