Accessory Structures in Auburn, AL (2026)
4 verified accessory structures rules for Auburn, Alabama, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
ADU Rules
Auburn caps an accessory dwelling unit at 30 percent of the principal home's floor space or 1,000 square feet, whichever is smaller, limits it to two stories, and allows only one ADU per lot under Zoning Ordinance Section 408.02(D)(4), on top of the setback and floor-area standards for the district.
Auburn Limits Accessory Dwelling Unit Size
Some RestrictionsZoning Ordinance § 408.02(D)(4)(b),(c),(e),(f)
An accessory dwelling unit shall contain its own sleeping room, kitchen, and bathing and toilet facilities; and such facilities shall be adequate to support independent residential use of the unit. The maximum area occupied by the accessory dwelling unit shall be no more than thirty (30) percent of the floor space in the principal residence or 1,000 square feet, whichever is the lowest. ... Acc...
ADU Owner Occupancy
Auburn's accessory dwelling unit rule only works if the property owner lives on site: Zoning Ordinance Section 408.02(D)(4)(h) requires the principal dwelling unit to be owner-occupied before an ADU can be approved, and the code allows no waiver or variance from that condition.
Auburn Requires Owner-Occupancy For ADUs
Significant RestrictionsZoning Ordinance § 408.02(D)(4)(a),(h),(i)
These provisions apply to a residential unit that is located in an owner-occupied single family detached home, or is a separate structure on the same lot as an owner-occupied single family dwelling. ... The principal dwelling unit must be owner-occupied; and an accessory dwelling unit shall not be rented or used as income producing property. ... No accessory dwelling unit shall be approved unle...
ADU Rental Restrictions
Auburn's accessory dwelling unit rule doubles as a rental ban: Zoning Ordinance Section 408.02(D)(4)(h) states an ADU "shall not be rented or used as income producing property," closing off the garage-apartment-as-rental-income model even though the unit itself is legal to build.
Auburn Bars Renting Out Accessory Units
Heavy RestrictionsZoning Ordinance § 408.02(D)(4)(h)-(i)
The principal dwelling unit must be owner-occupied; and an accessory dwelling unit shall not be rented or used as income producing property. ... No accessory dwelling unit shall be approved unless all the conditions set forth above are met. No waivers or variances to this Section shall be allowed as a means of accommodating an accessory dwelling unit.
Shed & Carport Rules
A backyard shed in Auburn needs a zoning certificate, must sit at least 10 feet behind the front building line and 5 feet from the property line, and all accessory buildings together are capped at half the house's floor area.
Auburn Shed Rules: Setbacks, Size Cap, Permit
Some RestrictionsAuburn, AL Zoning Ordinance § 511.03(E),(G),(J)
E. No accessory structure shall be closer than ten (10) feet to a principal structure or closer than five (5) feet to any other accessory structure, unless it is attached to such principal or other structure by means of fully enclosed living area. ... G. Accessory structures relating to residential uses shall be placed no less than ten (10) feet to the rear of the front building line. ... J. On...
Looking for Lee County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Auburn city rules.
Accessory Structures in Lee County →