Garage conversion rules in Buncombe County, NC — sometimes called garage-to-ADU or accessory living unit conversions — govern permits, ceiling height, egress, and parking replacement.
Buncombe County's zoning code has no dedicated garage-conversion section. Converting a garage to living or business space is governed by the underlying district's use and dimensional rules (Sec. 78-642), the accessory-structure standards (Sec. 78-663), and, if used for work, the home-occupation limits (Sec. 78-665). A building permit applies countywide.
The county does not single out garage conversions in Chapter 78. A converted garage must comply with the permitted uses and dimensional requirements of your zoning district (Sec. 78-642) and, if it is an accessory building, the accessory-structure setbacks in Sec. 78-663. If the converted space is used for a business, the home-occupation standards built into the definition in Sec. 78-581 apply (occupation entirely within a dwelling or accessory building, no more than one nonresident employee, no outside display, and only one unlighted sign). NC state building-code permits apply regardless of zoning district; inside a town, that town governs.
Occupying a converted garage without required permits, or exceeding home-occupation limits, is enforceable through permit denial and civil penalties by the zoning administrator.
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