Bulloch County, GA Accessory Structures: ADU Rules (2026)

Section 1404 of the Zoning Ordinance (Appendix C) governs accessory dwellings, defined to include basement apartments, garage apartments, caretaker or employee quarters and guesthouses. They are permitted, either inside the principal dwelling or as a freestanding structure, only in the AG-5, R80, R40 and R25 zoning districts, and only one accessory dwelling unit is allowed per lot. An accessory dwelling built inside the main house cannot exceed 25 percent of the principal dwelling's habitable floor area and requires one additional off-street parking space. A freestanding accessory dwelling can sit over a detached garage or stand as its own structure, but only in the side or rear yard, and its facade materials must match the principal structure or have a coordinated architectural rhythm as the zoning official determines, with material samples required at permitting.

Size is capped by district: in AG-5 the unit must be at least 750 square feet of conditioned space but no more than 60 percent of the primary structure's square footage up to a 1,500-square-foot ceiling; in the residential districts (R80, R40, R25) the same 750-square-foot floor applies but the ceiling drops to 1,200 square feet. Each freestanding unit also needs one additional off-street parking space and must meet the minimum lot area standard of Section 606. These standards were amended December 2, 2025.