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Jonesboro, AR Accessory Structures: ADU Rules (2026)

Significant Restrictions

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

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

Key Facts

By-right districts: AG, RR, R-O only
Other residential districts: Conditional use approval required
General rental: Prohibited citywide
RS-1/RS-2 size cap: 25% of home, max 1,500 sq ft
RS-3 through RS-8: Conditional use required, any size

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 Arkansas under recent ADU streamlining laws. The Jonesboro, AR rules below cover local size, height, and setback requirements.

Summary

Jonesboro allows an accessory dwelling unit by right only in the AG, RR, and R-O districts, and only to house immediate family or on-site employees. Everywhere else in a residential zone, an ADU needs conditional use approval from the planning commission, and general rental of any accessory dwelling is prohibited citywide.

(1)Accessory dwelling unit. Accessory dwelling units shall be allowed by right in AG, RR, and R-O districts provided that the dwelling unit is used to house immediate family members or employees who work onsite. Such units may also be allowed, subject to conditional use approval, in other residential districts. Accessory dwelling units shall not be used for general rental purposes. RS-1 through RS-2 single-family dwellings only. Accessory dwelling structures are permitted, but may not exceed 25 percent of the heated square footage of the primary residence, maximum 1500 square feet. Any structure exceeding 1,500 square feet must be reviewed by MAPC as a conditional use application. RS-3 through RS-5: Accessory dwelling structures are permitted only as a conditional use. RS-6 through RS-8: Accessory dwelling structures are permitted only by conditional application to the MAPC.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 16).

Full Breakdown

Sec. 117-226(1) creates Jonesboro's baseline rule for accessory dwelling units, also called garage apartments: they're allowed by right only in the AG, RR, and R-O districts, and only when the unit houses immediate family members or an employee who works on-site. In every other residential district, an accessory dwelling unit requires a conditional use permit from the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission before it can be built. Citywide, an accessory dwelling unit can never be used as a general rental, regardless of district or approval type.

Size limits layer on top of the location rule for the RS series. Under Sec. 117-225(d)(1), in the RS-1 and RS-2 single-family districts an accessory dwelling structure can't exceed 25 percent of the heated square footage of the primary residence, with a hard cap of 1,500 square feet; anything over 1,500 square feet must go through MAPC conditional-use review even if the 25 percent test is met. In RS-3 through RS-5, Sec. 117-225(d)(2) requires conditional use approval for any accessory dwelling structure regardless of size.

In RS-6 through RS-8, Sec. 117-225(d)(3) likewise requires MAPC conditional-use approval. Across every single-family district, any approved accessory dwelling or accessory building must match the architectural style of the primary home and sit in the rear yard only.

Violations & Fines

Building or converting space into an accessory dwelling unit without the required conditional use approval, or renting one out as a general rental, is a zoning violation under Sec. 117-3: a class C misdemeanor with a $100 to $500 fine and each day of continued violation a separate offense. MAPC can deny or revoke conditional use approval, and the planning department can withhold a certificate of occupancy for an ADU built outside these standards.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I build an accessory dwelling unit by right in Jonesboro?

Only in the AG, RR, and R-O zoning districts, and only if the unit will house immediate family or an on-site employee, per Sec. 117-226(1). In every other residential district, you need a conditional use permit from the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission before building one.

How big can an accessory dwelling unit be in an RS-1 neighborhood?

Up to 25 percent of your primary home's heated square footage, capped at 1,500 square feet, under Sec. 117-225(d)(1). Go over 1,500 square feet and the project needs MAPC conditional-use review even if it still meets the 25 percent test.

Can I rent out my accessory dwelling unit long-term?

No. Sec. 117-226(1) states accessory dwelling units 'shall not be used for general rental purposes' anywhere in the city, regardless of district or whether the unit was approved by right or through conditional use.

Sources & Official References

[1]Jonesboro, AR Code of Ordinances, Sec. 117-226(1) & 117-225(d)

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All Jonesboro rules

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

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