Accessory Structures in Huntsville, AL (2026)
4 verified accessory structures rules for Huntsville, Alabama, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
ADU Rules
Huntsville's zoning code lets homeowners add a second kitchen inside a single-family house, but Section 10.6.3 flatly bars any kitchen in a detached garage, carriage house, or accessory structure, so a true rentable garage apartment isn't allowed in residential districts.
Huntsville Blocks Accessory Dwelling Unit Kitchens
Significant RestrictionsHuntsville Zoning Ordinance §§ 10.6.1, 10.6.3 (Code Appendix A)
10.6.1. A property owner shall be permitted to construct a second kitchen in a single-family detached dwelling, if the property is, and will be, in compliance with the zoning regulations and does not require a variance for installation of the second kitchen. ... 10.6.3. No kitchen shall be permitted in a detached accessory structure on a single-family lot nor in a structure physically attached ...
ADU Owner Occupancy
Huntsville lets a single-family homeowner add a second kitchen only if the property owner actually lives in the house as a legal residence. Zoning Ordinance § 10.6.5 limits use of that second kitchen to family members and temporary guests of the resident-owner and bars charging guests any rent, while § 10.6.10 requires the zoning administrator to keep a citywide registry of every qualifying dwelling.
Huntsville Second-Kitchen Owner-Occupancy Rule
Some RestrictionsHuntsville Zoning Ordinance §§ 10.6.1, 10.6.5, 10.6.10 (Code Appendix A)
10.6.1. A property owner shall be permitted to construct a second kitchen in a single-family detached dwelling, if the property is, and will be, in compliance with the zoning regulations and does not require a variance for installation of the second kitchen. 10.6.5. Users of the second kitchen must be family members or temporary guests of the property owner, and the property owner must occupy ...
ADU Rental Restrictions
A Huntsville single-family home with a second kitchen cannot be rented out under Zoning Ordinance § 10.6.9. Owners selling such a house must disclose the condition to buyers, and anyone planning to lease the property first has to remove the second kitchen's fixtures; getting caught renting with it intact means the city orders it dismantled at the owner's expense.
Huntsville Bans Renting Second-Kitchen Homes
Heavy RestrictionsHuntsville Zoning Ordinance § 10.6.9 (Code Appendix A)
10.6.9. A single-family dwelling having two kitchens in a single-family zoning district shall not be used as rental property, and it shall be the responsibility of the owner, when selling such property, to inform any prospective purchaser of this attached condition. If the property is to be used as rental property, then all facilities accommodating the second kitchen shall be removed prior to r...
Shed & Carport Rules
Huntsville caps residential accessory structures like sheds and detached garages at two stories, bars them from front and required side yards, and limits rear-yard coverage to 30 percent under Zoning Ordinance § 73.8, with a 5-foot lot-line setback and a 10-foot setback from other structures.
Huntsville Shed Size and Setback Rules
Some RestrictionsHuntsville Zoning Ordinance § 73.8 (Code Appendix A)
73.8. - Location of accessory structures on residential lots. Accessory structures in residential districts and on any lot used primarily for residential purposes shall conform to the following regulations: 73.8.1. No accessory structure shall be erected in any front yard or any required side yard except underground fallout shelters provided for under section 73.2 hereof. Accessory structures s...
Looking for Madison County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Huntsville city rules.
Accessory Structures in Madison County →