Newark, NJ Accessory Structures: Garage Conversions (2026)

Newark's 2023 zoning rewrite (Ord. No. 6PSF-E, adopted 11-1-2023) opened the door to accessory dwelling units citywide for the first time, but it drew a hard line at garages. Section 41:6-2-1, item 4, states that the conversion of an existing garage into an ADU shall not be permitted, with no variance path written into the conditional-use text itself. That sits alongside a matching ban on ADUs in a basement, cellar, or attic under item 3, so Newark's ADU program is built around new construction rather than repurposing existing accessory space.

A compliant detached ADU still has to clear the rest of Section 41:6-2-1's bulk table: a minimum 5,000-square-foot lot, floor area of at least 400 square feet or 25% of the principal dwelling's floor area but capped at 600 square feet, a 20-foot height limit, and setbacks of 10 feet from one side and five feet from the other side, five feet from the rear line, five feet from the principal building, and five feet from any other accessory structure. A. 40:55D-67. Landmarks and Historic Preservation Commission review applies where a property already falls under that jurisdiction.

Only one ADU structure is allowed per property, subdivision cannot be used to separate an ADU from the principal residence, and no trees may be removed to build one. A homeowner who wants to keep a garage and add living space must build a new detached ADU elsewhere on the lot or expand the principal structure; the garage stays a garage under this section.