Accessory Structures in Barrow County, GA (2026)
3 rules for unincorporated Barrow County, Georgia.
Verified from official government sources
ADU Rules
Barrow County allows one detached guest house per lot as an accessory dwelling for relatives, domestic employees or temporary guests, capped at 50 percent of the main home's living area or 1,500 square feet, whichever is larger. Barrow County Code § 89-220 also lets a household add a second cooking facility for relatives under section 89-221, called a relative residence.
Guest House Rules in Barrow County
Some RestrictionsBarrow County Code § 89-220
A detached dwelling unit that is used primarily for sleeping purposes by relatives, domestic employees or temporary guests of the family occupying the principal home on the lot must meet the following minimum requirements: ... (b)Restrictions.(1)Guest houses shall be architecturally compatible with the main unit.(2)No more than one guest house may be located on any lot.(3)The guest house must b...
ADU Owner Occupancy
In unincorporated Barrow County, a homeowner may add a second cooking facility for relatives inside a single-family house only if the property owner lives there too. County Code Section 89-221 caps the second kitchen's size at the main kitchen's footprint, requires the two living areas to connect through the interior, and orders paved off-street parking for any extra vehicles the arrangement brings.
Barrow County Relative Residence Owner-Occupancy Rule
Some RestrictionsBarrow County Code § 89-221
A second cooking facility may be constructed and used within a single-family residence for the exclusive use of relatives of the real property owner subject to the following restrictions: (a)The real property owner must live in the single-family residence.(b)The area of the second cooking facility shall not exceed the area of the main cooking facility.(c)Access to the relatives' living area sha...
Shed & Carport Rules
In unincorporated Barrow County, a small shed of 144 square feet or less only needs to sit five feet from any property line and stay to the rear of the house. Once an accessory building tops 144 square feet, section 89-407(a)(3) makes it follow the same setback as the main house, and it generally cannot stand in the front yard.
Barrow County Shed and Accessory Building Setbacks
Some RestrictionsBarrow County Code § 89-407(a)
Sec. 89-407. - Minimum setbacks; accessory buildings and structures. (a)Accessory buildings. Minimum setbacks for accessory buildings shall be as follows: ... (3)All other accessory buildings.a.Accessory buildings having a floor area of 144 square feet or less must be at least five feet from any property line and shall be located to the rear of the principal building.b.Accessory buildings havin...
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