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Greenwood, IN Accessory Structures: ADU Rules (2026)

Some Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

ADU rules in Greenwood, IN, also called accessory dwelling unit regulations or granny flat ordinances, cover setbacks, owner-occupancy, parking, and permit requirements.

Key Facts

ADUs per lot: One (1) maximum
Detached ADU size cap: 30% of home or 800 sq ft, greater applies
Permit required: Yes, for construction or addition
Utilities: Must be run underground
Governing section: General Ordinances § 10-03-13(A)
First violation fine: $50.00 civil zoning citation

ADU Eligibility Quick-Check

An Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) is a smaller, independent living unit on the same lot as a single-family home: converted garages, detached cottages, basement or attic conversions, and attached additions all qualify. Most states have streamlined ADU permitting since 2020, but local rules still control size, height, and setback.

Is your lot zoned single-family or multi-family residential?
Does your lot have at least 1,200 sq ft of buildable space?
Is your existing home owner-occupied (in most states this is not required, but some require it for ADU permits)?
Will the ADU stay under your state's size cap (commonly 850-1,200 sq ft for detached)?
Can you provide one off-street parking space (waived in many states within 0.5 mi of transit)?

If you answered 'yes' to most of these, you likely qualify in Indiana under recent ADU streamlining laws. The Greenwood, IN rules below cover local size, height, and setback requirements.

Summary

Greenwood allows one accessory dwelling unit per lot under Section 10-03-13(A), built new, converted or added, but caps a detached ADU at 30% of the primary home's floor area or 800 square feet, whichever is greater, and requires a permit before construction.

Sec. 10-03-13. Accessory Uses and Structures. ... A. Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU). 1. An Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) may be created through new construction, conversion of an existing structure, addition to an existing structure, or conversion of an existing house to an ADU while simultaneously constructing a new primary dwelling on the site where there is adherence to all zoning regulations for both structures. A permit is required for the construction or addition of an ADU. The following standards apply to ADU’s: a. Only one (1) accessory dwelling unit is allowed on a lot; ... ... d. The maximum size of a detached ADU shall be limited to thirty percent (30%) of the primary home’s total floor area or eight hundred (800) square feet, whichever is greater and the maximum height must adhere to the accessory dwelling height maximum for the respective district or zone. All other requirements for an accessory structure must be met; ... ... h. All utilities extended to serve the ADU must be underground. All ADUs must adhere to Indiana State Building Codes.

View official code

Full Breakdown

Section 10-03-13(A)(1) of the General Ordinances lets an ADU be created "through new construction, conversion of an existing structure, addition to an existing structure, or conversion of an existing house to an ADU while simultaneously constructing a new primary dwelling," so long as both structures meet all zoning regulations, and states plainly "A permit is required for the construction or addition of an ADU." Subsection (a) limits a lot to "only one (1) accessory dwelling unit," subsection (d) caps a detached ADU at "thirty percent (30%) of the primary home's total floor area or eight hundred (800) square feet, whichever is greater," and ties maximum height to "the accessory dwelling height maximum for the respective district or zone." Subsection (e) requires a sidewalk from the street to a detached ADU's entrance, subsection (f) requires an interior stairway for an upper-floor ADU (exterior secondary stairways are allowed but not on the front facade), subsection (g) waives added parking if the principal dwelling's own parking requirement is already met, and subsection (h) requires all utilities serving the ADU to run underground and the unit to meet Indiana State Building Codes.

Community Development Services, Planning Division reviews ADU permit applications against these standards as part of the Unified Development Ordinance for the City of Greenwood, Indiana; the ADU also counts toward the two-accessory-structure-per-property limit set in Section 10-03-13(C).

Violations & Fines

Using or building an ADU that violates Section 10-03-13(A), for example a second detached ADU on one lot or an oversized unit, is a civil zoning violation under Section 10-04-09: a warning ticket issues first, then a $50 citation, $75 for a second and $100 for each one after that, with every uncorrected day counted separately and a 10-working-day window to appeal to the Board of Zoning Appeals.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accessory dwelling units can I build on one lot in Greenwood, Indiana?

Section 10-03-13(A)(1)(a) of the General Ordinances allows only one accessory dwelling unit per lot, whether it is new construction, a conversion, or an addition to an existing structure.

How big can a detached ADU be in Greenwood?

Section 10-03-13(A)(1)(d) caps a detached ADU at thirty percent (30%) of the primary home's total floor area or eight hundred (800) square feet, whichever number is greater, and its height must stay within the accessory dwelling height maximum for that zoning district.

Do I need extra parking for an ADU in Greenwood?

No. Section 10-03-13(A)(1)(g) waives any additional parking requirement for an ADU as long as the principal one-family dwelling's own parking requirement is already satisfied on the lot.

Sources & Official References

[1]Greenwood, Indiana General Ordinances § 10-03-13(A)

Other rules in Greenwood

Fence Regulations: Height LimitsSome Restrictions Shed & Carport RulesSome Restrictions ADU Owner OccupancySome Restrictions Parking Rules: Loading ZonesSome Restrictions Parking Rules: Driveway RulesSome Restrictions Fence Regulations: Material RestrictionsSignificant Restrictions Animal Ordinances: Veterinary Clinic ZoningSome Restrictions Animal Ordinances: Pet Groomer RulesSome Restrictions

All Greenwood rules

How Greenwood compares: Easiest Cities to Build an ADU·Compare Greenwood to another location·View the Indiana accessory structures overview

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