ADU Permits: Carrollton vs Garland
How do adu permits rules compare between Carrollton, TX and Garland, TX?
Carrollton, TX
Dallas County
No data available yet for Carrollton.
Garland, TX
Dallas County
Garland restricts accessory dwelling units in single-family residential districts. Under the Garland Code of Ordinances Chapter 6 (Comprehensive Zoning) and the Garland Development Code, single-family districts (SF-7, SF-10, etc.) permit one dwelling unit per lot. An accessory 'servant's quarters' or guest house is permitted as an incidental use but cannot be rented as a separate household. A true detached rental ADU typically requires a Specific Use Permit (SUP) under Texas Local Government Code Ch. 211 zoning authority.
View full Garland rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Carrollton | Garland |
|---|---|---|
| Authority | - | Garland Development Code; TX LGC Ch. 211 |
| Accessory Use | - | Servant's quarters / guest house |
| Separate Rental ADU | - | Requires SUP |
| Review Timeline | - | 6-12 months for SUP |
| Building Code | - | 2021 IRC with TX amendments |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Carrollton FAQ
No FAQs available.
Garland FAQ
Can I build an ADU in Garland?
Garland's single-family zoning generally permits only one dwelling unit per lot. An accessory guest house or servant's quarters may be allowed as incidental to the main dwelling but cannot be rented as a separate household. A true ADU as a separate rental requires a Specific Use Permit through the Plan Commission and City Council.
Why does Texas not have ADU preemption like Arizona?
Texas Local Government Code Chapter 211 grants home-rule cities like Garland broad zoning authority and the Legislature has not enacted a statewide ADU mandate. Unlike Arizona HB 2720 or California Gov. Code Sec. 65852.2, Texas leaves ADU permitting to local discretion through the SUP process.
Compare other topics
See how Carrollton and Garland compare on other ordinance categories.
Want to add a third city?
Use our full comparison tool to compare up to three cities.
Open Comparison Tool