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Accessory Structures in Columbia County, GA (2026)

2 rules for unincorporated Columbia County, Georgia.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Columbia County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

ADU Rules

An ancillary dwelling, Columbia County's term for a garage apartment or accessory dwelling unit, needs a lot of at least 20,000 square feet, is capped at 1,800 square feet on tracts up to five acres, and cannot be a manufactured home or tiny house under Code of Ordinances § 90-52.

Columbia County Ancillary Dwelling (ADU) Rules

Some Restrictions

Columbia County, GA, Code of Ordinances § 90-52

An ancillary dwelling shall be built only on a lot or tract of land containing 20,000 square feet of area or more. No more than one ancillary dwelling shall be constructed on a lot or tract of land containing not more than five acres of area, and no such ancillary dwelling shall contain more than 1,800 square feet of space under roof; provided, however, that the board of commissioners may incre...

Shed & Carport Rules

A shed or accessory building of 400 square feet or less needs only a 5-foot setback from any property line under Code of Ordinances § 90-144(b), but anything larger must meet the same front, side and rear setbacks as a house in that zoning district.

Columbia County Shed & Accessory Building Setbacks

Some Restrictions

Columbia County, GA, Code of Ordinances § 90-144(b)

(b)Accessory buildings. Minimum setbacks for accessory buildings shall be as follows:(1)Accessory buildings having a floor area of 400 square feet or less must be at least five feet from any property line.(2)Accessory buildings having a floor area greater than 400 square feet must comply with the same setbacks as required for principal buildings in each zoning district.

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