Home / Areas
Where we build ADUs around Charlotte
The City of Charlotte and four Mecklenburg County towns. Every town writes its own zoning, the county issues the building permits, and a new state law reaches only some of them.
What should Charlotte homeowners know before building an ADU?
As of October 2026, Charlotte allows one ADU on a lot with a single-family home in any zoning district, or with a duplex whose units are not on separate sublots. The ADU is capped at 40% of the main home's floor area inside the house or 50% in a separate structure, cannot be taller than the house, and normally shares the existing driveway.
- Check city limits. A Charlotte mailing address can sit in another town or in a town's extraterritorial jurisdiction, with different zoning.
- Count existing outbuildings. All accessory structures together cannot exceed the main home's heated first-floor area.
- Plan for 2027. The state's Regulatory Reform Act of 2026 sets new ADU limits for Charlotte from January 15, 2027. See what changes.
- Look at financing. The city's Queen City ADU Program offered forgivable loans for affordable rentals. See the program guide.
Which nearby towns do we serve?
Matthews
Southeast of Charlotte. Town zoning, county building permits.
ADUs in MatthewsHuntersville
North Mecklenburg. Rear-yard ADUs with published size rules.
ADUs in HuntersvilleMint Hill
East of Charlotte. The town handles zoning; the county handles building permits.
ADUs in Mint HillPineville
On the South Carolina line. A compact town with its own ordinance.
ADUs in PinevilleAs of October 2026, from the City of Charlotte residential accessory structure and ADU permit form and the sources on each town page.
Check what your lot allows
Share the address and the kind of unit you are picturing. We pull the zoning, compare it with the ADU rules for that town, and tell you what looks buildable.
Serving Charlotte, Matthews, Huntersville, Mint Hill and Pineville.