Hampton, VA Accessory Structures: ADU Rules (2026)
ADU rules in Hampton, VA, also called accessory dwelling unit regulations or granny flat ordinances, cover setbacks, owner-occupancy, parking, and permit requirements.
Key Facts
- Permit
- Zoning administrator permit required
- Max size
- 800 sq ft or 50% of house
- Max detached height
- 16 ft or house height
- ADUs per lot
- One only
Summary
Hampton allows one accessory dwelling unit per single-family lot under a zoning administrator permit, capping size at 800 square feet or half the main house, limiting detached ADU height to 16 feet, as amended through November 2025.
Accessory dwelling units on properties containing a lawfully permitted principal single-family dwelling shall obtain a zoning administrator permit... 1. No more than one (1) ADU shall be located on a lot... 5.a. An ADU shall not exceed eight hundred (800) square feet of dwelling area, or fifty (50) percent of the dwelling area of the principal dwelling, whichever is less.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 31 | Zoning: Supplement 20).
Full Breakdown
Hampton's zoning ordinance permits one accessory dwelling unit, attached or detached, per lot with a lawful principal single-family dwelling, under a zoning administrator permit rather than full site plan review. An ADU cannot exceed 800 square feet or 50% of the principal dwelling's area, whichever is smaller, and combined with other accessory structures cannot cover more than 20% of the rear yard. Detached ADUs need a 5-foot side and rear setback, cannot exceed 16 feet (or the principal dwelling's height, if lower), and cannot project past the front plane of the main house. A clearly marked 36-inch-wide pathway must connect the right-of-way to the ADU entrance, and the unit cannot be subdivided or sold separately. The rule was substantially rewritten by Ord. No. Z25-0002, adopted November 12, 2025.
Violations & Fines
The zoning administrator may revoke the ADU permit for violating any standard in Sec. 1-37; unpermitted ADUs also face standard zoning misdemeanor fines of $10-$1,000 under Sec. 1-11.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to build an ADU in Hampton?
How big can a Hampton ADU be?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hampton
How Hampton compares: Easiest Cities to Build an ADU·Compare Hampton to another location·View the Virginia accessory structures overview
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