5 rules for unincorporated Buncombe County, North Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Buncombe County's Zoning Ordinance (Ch. 78) does not create a dedicated ADU program; an accessory apartment is treated as an accessory building/structure and must meet the accessory-structure setbacks in Sec. 78-663 and the district's dimensional limits. A rented garage or basement apartment falls under the county's vacation-rental rules.
A shed or other accessory structure of 320 sq ft or less and 15 ft or less in height must sit at least seven feet from side and rear property lines. Larger or taller sheds need bigger setbacks (up to ten feet). This applies in the unincorporated county; towns set
Buncombe County Code Sec. 78-663
Accessory uses or structures with a building footprint of no more than 320 square feet and a height of no more than 15 feet shall meet the following standards: ... Side yard setback: seven feet; and Rear yard setback: seven feet.
Buncombe County's zoning code has no dedicated garage-conversion section. Converting a garage to living or business space is governed by the underlying district's use and dimensional rules (Sec. 78-642), the accessory-structure standards (Sec. 78-663), and, if used for work, the home-occupation limits (Sec. 78-665). A building permit applies countywide.
A carport is an accessory structure. In unincorporated Buncombe County, a carport of 320 sq ft or less and 15 ft or less in height must be at least seven feet from side and rear property lines under Sec. 78-663. Larger carports need a ten-foot rear setback and up to
Buncombe County Code Sec. 78-663
Accessory uses or structures with a building footprint of greater than 320 square feet or a height of more than 15 feet shall meet the following standards: ... Side yard setback, no public sewer: ten feet; ... and Rear yard setback: ten feet.
Buncombe County classifies a tiny home on wheels as a travel trailer. It may be used as a temporary dwelling for no more than 180 days per calendar year, only in districts that permit travel trailers (R-3, PS, CR, OU), and may never be permanently affixed to the ground as
Buncombe County Code Sec. 78-664
Travel trailers and/or recreational vehicles may be used as a temporary single-family dwelling for no more than 180 days out of the calendar year only in those districts that permit travel trailers or travel trailer parks. In no case shall a travel trailer or recreational vehicle be permanently set up or affixed to the ground or site.
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