ADU rules in Georgetown, TX — also called accessory dwelling unit regulations or granny flat ordinances — cover setbacks, owner-occupancy, parking, and permit requirements.
Georgetown permits accessory dwelling units (garage apartments, casitas) as a subordinate use limited to 25% of the primary dwelling. ADUs are allowed in AG, RE, RL, RS, and MU-DT districts, must share the primary residence's electric and water meters, and renting one requires the property to be owner-occupied.
Under the City of Georgetown Unified Development Code (UDC), a habitable accessory dwelling unit is a secondary living space with a full kitchen, such as a garage apartment or backyard cottage. The city states that an ADU 'is permitted as a subordinate use, provided that it is limited to 25 percent (25%) of the primary dwelling unit' (Section 5.02.020 B). ADUs are allowed in the AG (Agriculture), RE (Residential Estate), RL (Residential Low Density), RS (Residential Single-family), and MU-DT (Mixed-Use Downtown) districts. A key restriction is metering: 'The accessory dwelling unit must remain on the same electric and water meters as the primary residence,' and separate meters are prohibited per Section 5.02.020 B. Parking must total at least three on-site spaces (two for the primary residence plus one for the ADU). Renting an ADU is limited to owner-occupied properties, and a property owner who intends to rent generally needs a Special Use Permit (SUP) from the city. Accessory structures that do not contain a kitchen, such as guest houses or pool houses, are permitted without an SUP. Applications are handled through the My Government Online portal.
Building an ADU without the required permits, adding separate electric or water meters, renting a unit on a non-owner-occupied property, or operating a kitchen-equipped unit without a Special Use Permit can trigger code enforcement action and stop-work or permit-denial orders.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
georgetown-tx
Georgetown has no ordinance prohibiting backyard composting; residents may compost as long as the pile does not become a nuisance under Code of Ordinances Ch...
georgetown-tx
Georgetown publishes no specific ordinance banning or permitting residential artificial turf, so installation is generally allowed subject to general propert...
georgetown-tx
Georgetown promotes native landscaping with a Texas Grown rebate up to $3,000 (residential) per year for converting turf to native, water-wise plants. Statew...
georgetown-tx
Georgetown encourages rainwater harvesting and offers a utility rebate of $0.50 per gallon covering half the materials cost, up to $600 a year, for tanks up ...
georgetown-tx
Georgetown Water Utility customers follow year-round watering rules. Irrigation systems run only on assigned days (by address last digit), never Monday, and ...
georgetown-tx
Georgetown Code of Ordinances Section 8.20.100 declares weeds and grasses over six inches (developed) or 12 inches (undeveloped) a nuisance. Owners must also...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Williamson County.
See how other cities in Williamson County handle adu rules.
See how Georgetown's adu rules rules stack up against other locations.
Quick Compare
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.