What Qualifies As An ADU In Georgia?

ADUs in Georgia

ADUs are incredibly versatile! You can use them to create extra living spaces, boost your home value and even create a passive income through your ADU rental. If you are a resident of Georgia and are planning on building an ADU unit on your property, you may be wondering what the state’s regulations permit. In this short guide, we will discuss what qualifies as an ADU in Georgia and what rules and processes you should be aware of before you begin.

ADU in Georgia Regulations

Here are some of the ADU regulations in Georgia you should be aware of; these are what define a permissible ADU addition:

Zoning Regulations

ADUs are legal in the state of Georgia in most zoning districts. They are particularly allowed in single-family and multiple-family lots in zoning districts R-85, R-60, R-50, RM-18, RM-22 and RM-43.

Placement and Sizing

Now that you know where your ADU is legal, you can move on to designing the ADU unit. The first thing to consider is the size and location of your ADU.

According to state regulations, ADUs may be attached or detached from the primary dwelling in design. However, if detached, it should be located in the backyard region and should not hold a footprint that is 30% larger than the rear yard. 

After placement comes sizing. Your ADU unit may have a floor area of up to 800 square feet. However, this should not be any larger than 40% of the floor space of your primary dwelling. Additionally, the main dwelling, in combination with the ADU, should not exceed 40% of the available plot area.

Note that if you plan on building the ADU with a garage, the total floor area may be boosted up to 1,000 square feet as needed.

Owner Occupancy

Owner occupancy is a requirement by some states across the US, wherein the owner must reside in the primary dwelling next to their ADU most of the year. You will find similar ADU laws in Georgia.

Owner occupancy dictates that the owner must reside in the primary dwellings or the constructed ADU house for at least eight months of the year.

Renting

Can I build an ADU on my property for rent? Yes, in most zones around Georgia, you can rent your ADU to tenants and enjoy ADU rental income. However, your particular zoning ordinances may have their limitations, which you will want to check out before you start preparing your ADU for rent.

Impervious Surface

The next thing to consider is the impervious surfaces connecting to your ADU, such as the roofs, paved roads, parking lots, etc. The total coverage of your ADU’s impervious surfaces should be larger than 40% of the entire lot area. This is because some states like to keep a check on the amount of runoff polluted water and other pollutants that may seep into the ground otherwise.

Final Thoughts

Now that you have a rough idea of what regulations and rulings cover an ADU in Georgia, you can go ahead and start planning out how you will be constructing the ADU unit. Just make sure to take the time to read up on your local regulations to obtain accurate information regarding ADU regulations in your region.