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Nashville, TN Accessory Structures: ADU Rules (2026)

Significant Restrictions

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

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

Key Facts

Size cap: 700-850 sq ft by lot size
Occupancy: Owner must live in one unit
Location: USD, DADU overlay, or Specific Plan only
Before permit: Recorded covenant required
Units per lot: One DADU maximum

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 Tennessee under recent ADU streamlining laws. The Nashville, TN rules below cover local size, height, and setback requirements.

Summary

Metro requires detached ADUs be owner-occupied and capped at 700-850 square feet by lot size, permitted only in the Urban Services District, a DADU overlay in the General Services District, or via Specific Plan; a recorded covenant precedes permit issuance.

10.Restrictive Covenant. Prior to the issuance of a permit, an instrument shall be prepared and recorded with the register's office covenanting that the detached accessory dwelling unit is being established accessory to a principal structure... 11.Location. Detached accessory dwelling units shall only be permitted within the Urban Services District, within a Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit overlay district within the General Services District outside of the Urban Services District, or as otherwise permitted through a Specific Plan.

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 53 | Charter: Republication 9).

Full Breakdown

A detached accessory dwelling unit (DADU) in Metro Nashville must be owned by the same person as the principal structure, with one of the two units owner-occupied, and only one DADU is allowed per lot. Living space is capped at 700 square feet on lots under 10,000 square feet or 850 square feet on larger lots, and the unit cannot exceed the principal structure's size or height. DADUs are permitted only within the Urban Services District, inside a designated DADU overlay in the General Services District, or through an approved Specific Plan. Before a permit issues, owners must record a covenant restricting the unit to accessory use tied to the principal structure.

Violations & Fines

Building or occupying a DADU without a zoning permit lets the zoning administrator triple the permit fee, and any zoning violation carries a $500-per-day civil penalty plus misdemeanor exposure under Metro Code §§ 17.40.610-.620.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I build a detached ADU anywhere in Davidson County?

No. Metro Code § 17.16.030(G)(11) limits DADUs to the Urban Services District, lots inside an approved DADU overlay in the General Services District, or property covered by a Specific Plan.

How big can a Nashville DADU be?

Living space is capped at 700 square feet on lots under 10,000 square feet, or 850 square feet on larger lots, and it can't exceed the principal home's size or height.

Is there paperwork besides the building permit?

Yes. Before the permit issues, owners must record a covenant restricting the unit to accessory use tied to the owner-occupied principal structure.

Sources & Official References

[1]Metropolitan Code of Laws § 17.16.030 (Residential uses)

Other rules in Nashville

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All Nashville rules

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

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