ADU rules in Sparks, NV — also called accessory dwelling unit regulations or granny flat ordinances — cover setbacks, owner-occupancy, parking, and permit requirements.
Sparks allows one accessory dwelling unit per single-family lot under Municipal Code Section 20.03.003. ADUs are capped at 1,000 square feet or 50 percent of the main home, whichever is less, and no more than two bedrooms.
Section 20.03.003 permits one ADU per lot, built as a new building, adapted from an existing accessory structure, or carved from part of the main house. The ADU must sit in the established rear yard at least 10 feet from the rear lot line, meet side-yard setbacks, and be aesthetically consistent with the main structure's style and materials. Maximum size is 1,000 square feet or 50 percent of the main structure's floor area, whichever is less, with no more than two bedrooms, and it cannot exceed two stories or the principal home's height. An ADU gets no separate address and shares the home's water, electric, and gas meters. ADUs are not allowed on nonconforming lots.
Building or occupying an unpermitted ADU is a zoning and building-code violation. The city can require permits, corrections, or removal, and withhold a certificate of occupancy.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Washoe County.
See how Sparks's adu rules rules stack up against other locations.
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