Houston County, GA Accessory Structures: ADU Rules (2026)
ADU rules in Houston County, GA, also called accessory dwelling unit regulations or granny flat ordinances, cover setbacks, owner-occupancy, parking, and permit requirements.
Key Facts
- Approval body
- Board of Zoning Appeals, public hearing required
- Eligible districts
- R-AG or R-1 only
- Access requirement
- 15-foot unobstructed passageway to street
- Mobile home term
- 1 year, renewable by the Board
- Reapplication wait
- 6 months after withdrawal or denial
- Violation penalty
- Misdemeanor, each day a separate offense
Summary
Houston County's Land Development Regulations do not let anyone add a second house or mobile home to a residential lot as of right. Under Section 107, the Board of Zoning Appeals can grant a special exception permitting one additional single-family dwelling or mobile home on the same lot as a main house, but only where that main dwelling sits in an R-AG or R-1 district.
Section 107. Additional Dwellings on a Single Lot. The Board of Zoning Appeals, after review of an application and public hearing thereon, may grant a special exception to permit one additional single-family dwelling, or mobile home on the same lot or parcel of land as that of the main dwelling provided that: 107.1. The main dwelling is located in a R-AG or R-1 District; 107.2. Each additional dwelling conforms to the minimum lot area, minimum width and maximum lot coverage requirements for such dwelling as set forth in Section 81, and conforms 107.3. The arrangement of such additional dwellings are in such a manner that if the lot or parcel of land is ever sub-divided no nonconforming lots or nonconforming buildings are created; and 107.4. Each additional dwelling or mobile home has access to a public street by means of an unobstructed passageway of at least fifteen (15) feet in width. 107.5. Special Exceptions to permit mobile homes as additional dwellings on a single lot shall be effective for a period of one (1) year and may be renewed by the Board of Zoning and Appeals.
Full Breakdown
Section 107 of the Comprehensive Land Development Regulations, "Additional Dwellings on a Single Lot," lets the Board of Zoning Appeals grant a special exception for one extra single-family dwelling or mobile home sharing a lot with the main house, after an application and public hearing. 5). Getting there means filing with the Zoning Enforcement Officer under Section 118: the Board of Zoning Appeals has thirty days to recommend action to the Governing Body, the applicant must pay for a sign posted on the property at least fifteen days before the hearing, and the Governing Body must act within forty-five days of that hearing. 7. Nothing in this section creates a garage-apartment or accessory-dwelling category outside this special-exception path in R-AG or R-1.
Violations & Fines
Section 161, Penalties, makes a violation of any provision of these regulations a misdemeanor under Georgia Code Annotated Section 69-9905, with every day the violation continues counted as a separate offense under Georgia Code Annotated Section 69-1212. That applies to an unauthorized second dwelling placed without an approved Section 107 special exception. The Zoning Enforcement Officer administers and enforces the regulations, including inspections and Building Permit or Certificate of Occupancy issuance, per Section 111.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put a second house on my lot in Houston County?
Does a mobile home count as an extra dwelling under Section 107?
How wide does the driveway to a second dwelling have to be?
What if I build a second dwelling without approval?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Houston County
How Houston County compares: Easiest Cities to Build an ADU·Compare Houston County to another location·View the Georgia accessory structures overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.