Accessory Structures in Lee's Summit, MO (2026)
6 verified accessory structures rules for Lee's Summit, Missouri, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
ADU Rules
Lee's Summit caps a backyard accessory dwelling unit at 1,000 square feet or 50 percent of the main house's floor area, whichever is smaller, under UDO Section 6.1350.A, and allows only one ADU per single-family lot, with ongoing owner-occupancy of either the main house or the ADU required at all times.
Lee's Summit Accessory Dwelling Unit Rules
Some RestrictionsLee's Summit, MO, Unified Development Ordinance § 6.1350.A
Only one ADU is permitted on a single-family residential lot and must be accessory to a principal single-family dwelling unit on the same lot...All ADUs must be set back at least six feet behind the front of the principal single-family structure and set back at least 20 feet from the rear lot lines...An ADU will not exceed a gross floor area of one thousand (1,000) square feet or more than 50 p...
ADU Impact Fees
Lee's Summit's park impact fee, charged citywide on new building permits since July 1, 2025, does not apply to accessory dwelling units. Code of Ordinances § 19-304(B)(6) grants a full fee credit to any building permit requested for an accessory building or use as defined in the Unified Development Ordinance.
Lee's Summit ADU Park Impact Fee Waiver
Light RestrictionsLee's Summit, MO, Code of Ordinances ch. 19, art. IV, § 19-304(B)(6)
B.Full credits. Upon submission of a proper application therefore, the following persons requesting a building permit shall be granted a full credit in the amount of the park impact fees imposed pursuant to this article: ... 6.Building permits which are requested an accessory building or use, as such term is defined in the City's Unified Development Ordinance.
ADU Owner Occupancy
Building an accessory dwelling unit in Lee's Summit means attesting to owner occupancy on the building permit application, and staying owner-occupied afterward isn't optional: the UDO requires ongoing owner occupancy of either the main house or the ADU for as long as the second unit exists, with only a narrow, Director-approved waiver for absences up to a year.
Lee's Summit ADU Owner-Occupancy Rule
Some RestrictionsLee's Summit, MO, Unified Development Ordinance Sec. 6.1350.A.6
6.Permitting and occupancy:a.At the time of building permit application, the applicant will attest to owner occupancy of the premises for which the ADU will be located.b.Ongoing owner occupancy of either the primary dwelling unit or the ADU is required. (A temporary waiver of this requirement may be granted by the Director in the case of a documented need for the owner-occupant to leave the pre...
ADU Rental Restrictions
An accessory dwelling unit in Lee's Summit cannot be rented out as a short-term rental, period. The UDO's ADU occupancy rules flatly bar short-term rentals inside an ADU, tie the unit to the same ownership as the main house, and require ongoing owner occupancy of one of the two dwellings, closing off the ADU as an income property for nightly or weekly guests.
Lee's Summit ADU Short-Term Rental Ban
Heavy RestrictionsLee's Summit, MO, Unified Development Ordinance Sec. 6.1350.A.6.c-e
c.The primary and accessory dwelling will remain under single ownership.d.ADUs must meet all building and fire code requirements as adopted and will be assigned a separate address.e.Short term rentals are not permitted within an ADU.
Shed & Carport Rules
A storage shed in a Lee's Summit residential district must sit at least 3 feet from the side and rear property lines, stay under 15 feet tall, and cap out at 250 square feet under UDO Table 6.IV-1; sheds are barred from the front yard entirely, and only one detached garage or shed is allowed per one- or two-family lot.
Lee's Summit Shed Setback and Size Rules
Some RestrictionsLee's Summit, MO, Unified Development Ordinance § 6.1330, Table 6.IV-1 (Sheds and Storage Buildings in Residential Districts)
Sheds and Storage Buildings in Residential Districts. Residential (including RDR and RLL). Front: Prohibited. Side: 3 feet. Rear: 3 feet. Height: 15 feet. Size Limitations and Other Special Conditions: Maximum size: 250 square feet. [Table 6.IV-1] ... C.Number. Any number of accessory structures is permitted provided that the lot coverage is not exceeded, except as further limited herein. The m...
Garage Conversions
Converting a garage into living space for an accessory dwelling unit is allowed in Lee's Summit, but only if the parking spaces that garage used to provide get relocated somewhere else on the property first. The UDO lists garage conversion as one accepted way to build an ADU, then immediately conditions it on replacing that lost off-street parking.
Lee's Summit Garage-to-ADU Conversion Rules
Some RestrictionsLee's Summit, MO, Unified Development Ordinance Sec. 6.1350.A.2, A.3.c
2.An ADU may be built as:a.An internal conversion of an existing living area, basement, garage, or attic; orb.An addition to the principal single-family dwelling unit; orc.An addition to or conversions of an accessory structure such as a detached garage; ord.Construction of a new single-family detached house with an internal or detached accessory dwelling unit; ore.Construction of a detached ac...
Looking for Jackson County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Lee's Summit city rules.
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