Accessory Structures in Durham County, NC (2026)
3 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Durham County, North Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
ADU Rules
Durham allows accessory dwelling units by right under its joint City-County Unified Development Ordinance. An ADU on a single-family or duplex lot is capped at 1,200 heated square feet total, limited to one per lot, and requires no added parking.
ADU Rules in Durham County, NC: Allowed by the UDO
Some RestrictionsDurham UDO Sec. 5.4.2
The heated floor area of the accessory dwelling shall not exceed 1,000 square feet on a single story and 1,200 square feet total. Only one accessory dwelling shall be allowed. No parking is required for an accessory dwelling.
Shed & Carport Rules
A carport is an accessory structure under Durham's UDO. It must be located to the rear of the front building line and, on typical residential lots, set back at least five feet from the rear and side property lines.
Carport Rules in Durham County, NC: Accessory Structure
Some RestrictionsDurham UDO Sec. 5.4.1
Accessory structures associated with a single-family or duplex structure shall be located to the rear of the front building line. The accessory structure shall be set back at least five feet from the rear and side property lines.
Garage Conversions
Converting a Durham garage into living space usually creates an accessory dwelling under UDO Sec. 5.4.2. It must stay within the 1,200-square-foot cap, be one per lot, and meet the North Carolina Residential Code, with a City-County building permit.
Garage Conversions in Durham County, NC: Treated as an ADU
Some RestrictionsDurham UDO Sec. 5.4.2
The heated floor area of the accessory dwelling shall not exceed 1,000 square feet on a single story and 1,200 square feet total. Only one accessory dwelling shall be allowed.
Accessory Structures by City in Durham County
1 cities in Durham County have their own accessory structures rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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