Accessory Structures in Raleigh, NC (2026)
3 verified accessory structures rules for Raleigh, North Carolina, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
ADU Rules
Raleigh allows one accessory dwelling unit (ADU) per lot with an existing Detached House, Attached House, Townhouse or Tiny House in the R-1, R-2, R-4, R-6 and R-10 districts, rising to two ADUs on lots in a Frequent Transit Area. Size, setback and height limits scale with lot area under UDO Sec. 2.6.3.
Raleigh ADU Size, Setback, Height Rules
Some RestrictionsRaleigh Unified Development Ordinance § 2.6.3
There shall be no more than one ADU on the same lot as a principal dwelling unless it is located in a Frequent Transit Area as shown on the City's Comprehensive Plan which would then allow for up to two ADUs on the same lot as a principal dwelling. However, in the Frequent Transit Area, only one ADU can be attached to the principal dwelling. In the case of a townhouse development only one ADU i...
Shed & Carport Rules
Raleigh's UDO regulates sheds as accessory structures under Section 6.7.2: combined floor area on a residential lot caps out between 600 and 1,200 square feet depending on lot size, side/rear setbacks run as tight as 5 feet, and overall height is capped at 26 feet regardless of lot size.
Raleigh Backyard Shed Size and Setback Limits
Some RestrictionsRaleigh Unified Development Ordinance § 6.7.2
In Residential Districts, accessory structures associated with Detached, Tiny, or Attached Houses shall conform to the standards shown in tables E, F and G below. E. Floor Area Standards for Accessory Structures in Residential Districts Lot Size: Greater than 40,000 sf | 10,000 sf to 40,000 sf | 4,000 sf to 9,999 sf | Less than 4,000 sf E1 Combined Floor Area (max.): 1,200 sf | 1,000 sf | 800 s...
Tiny Homes
Raleigh's UDO caps a Tiny House at an 800-square-foot footprint and 1,200 square feet of gross floor area, then sets district-specific minimum lot sizes ranging from 40,000 square feet in R-1 down to 2,000 square feet in R-10, with a 26-foot, two-story height cap that applies everywhere and separate accessory-structure setbacks under Sec. 6.7.2.
Raleigh Tiny House Lot Size and Height Rules
Some RestrictionsRaleigh Unified Development Ordinance § 2.2.8
I. Tiny House A building with a building footprint no greater than 800 square feet and no greater than 1200 square feet gross floor area constructed to accommodate 1 or 2 principal dwelling units on a single lot. A series of tiny homes as part of a cottage court may be located on a single lot. Sec. 2.2.8. Tiny Houses R-1 R-2 R-4 R-6 R-10 A. Lot Dimensions A1 Area (min) 40,000 sf 15,000 sf 7,5...
Looking for Wake County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Raleigh city rules.
Accessory Structures in Wake County →