Accessory Structures in Newport News, VA (2026)
4 verified accessory structures rules for Newport News, Virginia, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
ADU Rules
Newport News caps accessory dwelling units at 800 square feet, one per lot, under Zoning Code § 45-518.1, requiring the owner to occupy the main house or the ADU as a primary residence.
Newport News ADU Standards & Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsNewport News City Code § 45-518.1(1),(4)-(6)
(1)The property owner must occupy either the principal dwelling or the accessory dwelling unit as their primary residence.(2)An accessory dwelling unit shall be located either (a) in a building that is accessory to, and is located on the same lot as a single-family detached dwelling; or (b) attached to the side or rear of the principal structure with a separate entrance.(3)An exterior entrance ...
ADU Owner Occupancy
An accessory dwelling unit in Newport News only works if the property owner actually lives there. City Code § 45-518.1(1) requires the owner to occupy either the main house or the ADU as a primary residence, a rule the city ties to keeping the lot's single-family character intact even though a second dwelling sits on it.
Newport News ADU Owner-Occupancy Requirement
Some RestrictionsNewport News City Code § 45-518.1(1)
For the purpose of maintaining the single-family character of single-family homes, while ensuring that an accessory dwelling unit associated with such homes remains subordinate to the principal single-family detached dwelling with which it is associated, all accessory dwelling units permitted by this chapter shall be subject to the following standards:(1)The property owner must occupy either th...
ADU Rental Restrictions
An accessory dwelling unit in Newport News cannot be rented out night to night. City Code § 45-518.1(12)-(13) sets a 30-consecutive-day minimum lease term for any leased ADU and flatly bars using one as a short-term residential rental, on top of the section's owner-occupancy and rental-licensing requirements.
Newport News ADU Minimum Lease & STR Ban
Significant RestrictionsNewport News City Code § 45-518.1(12)-(13)
(12)If an accessory dwelling unit is leased, the lease term shall not be less than thirty (30) consecutive days, and must comply with all local rental regulations, including but not limited to occupancy limits, licensing, and inspections.(13)The accessory dwelling shall not be used as a short-term residential rental.(14)An accessory dwelling unit shall only be used in connection with a single-f...
Shed & Carport Rules
Newport News limits accessory buildings and sheds to 1.5 stories or the main house's height, caps rear-yard coverage at 30 percent, and generally bars them from front yards.
Newport News Accessory Building Size Rules
Some RestrictionsNewport News City Code § 45-2806(1), (6)
(1)Percent of yard covered. Not more than thirty (30) percent of a required rear yard shall be occupied by an accessory building or structure...(6)Maximum height and floor area. The overall height and floor area of accessory buildings and structures shall not exceed one and one-half (1½) stories, the height or ground floor area of the main building on properties used for individual single-famil...