Lee County, NC Accessory Structures: ADU Rules (2026)

Accessory dwellings in unincorporated Lee County are governed by UDO § 10.4, which starts by tying eligibility to the permitted use matrix in Table 4.6-1: an accessory dwelling is only allowed where that table permits it for the applicable zoning district. Section 10.4.2 then sets four specific standards. Only one accessory dwelling is permitted per lot, so a property cannot stack a garage apartment and a separate cottage as two accessory units. The unit must be sited to the side or the rear of the principal dwelling, ruling out a front-yard accessory structure even where the front setback would otherwise allow it.

It must meet all setback requirements established for principal uses within its zoning district, meaning an ADU does not get a reduced accessory-structure setback the way a shed or detached garage might; it is held to the same line as the main house. Finally, adequate off-street parking must be provided for vehicles belonging to the accessory dwelling's occupants, and that parking area cannot include grassed or turf surfaces, so a gravel, paved, or otherwise improved surface is required rather than simply parking on the lawn.

This standard was carried into the code through amendments dated September 19, 2005 and September 15, 2008. Because ADU approval runs through the permitted use matrix and site plan or zoning clearance review by Community Development, a property owner in unincorporated Lee County planning a garage apartment or in-law suite needs to confirm both the use matrix entry for the zoning district and compliance with all four § 10.4.2 standards before applying, since the county evaluates the accessory dwelling against the same dimensional standards as the principal structure rather than more permissive accessory-building rules.