ADU Owner Occupancy: Carrollton vs Garland
How do adu owner occupancy rules compare between Carrollton, TX and Garland, TX?
Carrollton, TX
Dallas County
No data available yet for Carrollton.
Garland, TX
Dallas County
Garland's single-family residential zoning effectively requires owner-occupancy of accessory living quarters by limiting each lot to one dwelling unit. The accessory guest house or servant's quarters cannot be rented as a separate household. Where a Specific Use Permit allows a true ADU, owner-occupancy is typically imposed as an SUP condition with a recorded deed restriction. Texas has not preempted local owner-occupancy rules.
View full Garland rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Carrollton | Garland |
|---|---|---|
| Effective Requirement | - | Yes - one unit per lot in SF zoning |
| Authority | - | Garland Development Code; TX LGC Ch. 211 |
| Where SUP Granted | - | Owner-occupancy typically required |
| Deed Restriction | - | Recorded with Dallas County Clerk |
| Both Units Rented | - | Prohibited in SF districts |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Carrollton FAQ
No FAQs available.
Garland FAQ
Does Garland require owner occupancy?
Effectively yes. Garland single-family zoning permits only one dwelling unit per lot. An accessory guest house cannot be rented as a separate household. Where a Specific Use Permit allows a true second unit, owner-occupancy is typically imposed as an SUP condition with a recorded deed restriction.
Can I rent my guest house to a non-family tenant?
No, not as a separate household in single-family zoning. The accessory structure must be incidental to the main dwelling. Renting it as an independent unit is treated as an unauthorized second dwelling and a Garland Development Code violation enforced by Code Compliance.
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