What's Required in Charlotte
- One ADU is allowed per lot with a single-family dwelling in any district that allows single-family homes, under the same ownership as the principal dwelling.
- A detached ADU may not exceed 600 heated square feet or 70 percent of the principal residence, whichever is greater, and never more than 1,000 heated square feet.
- The ADU must share the principal dwelling's driveway unless the lot is a corner lot, a through lot or abuts an alley.
- A detached ADU must stay out of the front and corner side setbacks, 3 feet from side and rear lot lines (15 feet from the rear line if 24 feet or taller) and 5 feet from the house.
- A City LDIRL review ($410 stormwater plus $65 zoning in FY2026) with a professionally prepared site plan, building elevations, ADU declaration and GIS addressing must be approved before the County approves.
- Mecklenburg County residential plan review is required for every new ADU and every conversion of existing space into an ADU, submitted as one PDF through the RTAC electronic path.
- Permit fees follow the County valuation table on the construction value, with a $3 technology charge per permit and separate electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits.
- A North Carolina general contractor license is required for contracted work of $40,000 or more; owner-builders sign a notarized affidavit and post a bond at that level.
- ADUs may not be created in recreational vehicles, travel trailers or campers.
Can you build an ADU in Charlotte?
Yes. The Charlotte UDO (Section 15.6.F) permits one accessory dwelling unit with a single-family dwelling in any zoning district where a single-family dwelling is allowed, and with a duplex that is not on sublots. The ADU must be clearly subordinate to the house, stay under the same ownership as the principal dwelling, and share its driveway unless the lot is a corner lot, a through lot or abuts an alley. An ADU inside a detached structure may not exceed 600 heated square feet or 70 percent of the floor area of the principal residence, whichever is greater, and never more than 1,000 heated square feet.
Two governments share your project. Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement (LUESA, 2145 Suttle Avenue, 980-314-CODE) issues every building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing permit inside the city and runs the inspections. The City of Charlotte handles zoning under the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO): setbacks, heights, lot coverage and the zoning sign-off the County needs before it will issue a permit.
A detached ADU is also an accessory structure under Article 17: not in the front or corner side setback, at least 3 feet from side and rear lot lines (15 feet from the rear line and the district side setback if it is 24 feet or taller), and 5 feet from the house.
How much does an ADU permit cost in Charlotte?
City LDIRL. ADUs and garage-with-ADU projects are on the LDIRL list. FY2026 fees are $410 for stormwater review of an ADU plus $65 residential zoning review, $475, and a tree preservation review of $180 to $300 applies when trees are affected. The review takes about 15 days and must be approved before the County approves.
County. Every new or converted ADU goes through residential plan review, and the fees follow the LUESA Fee Ordinance table on construction value: $59.70 plus $12.19 per $1,000 over $3,000 up to $50,000, $632.57 plus $5.49 per $1,000 to $100,000, $907.12 plus $5.93 per $1,000 to $150,000, then $1,203.52 plus $4.59 per $1,000. Each trade permit is priced on its own contract cost, each permit carries a $3 technology charge, and a general contractor's building permit adds $10 for the Homeowner Recovery Fund. A $60,000 garage conversion (building $687.47, electrical on $5,000 $84.08, plumbing on $5,000 $84.08, mechanical on $4,000 $71.89) comes to about $949.52 County, $1,424.52 with the City. A $150,000 detached ADU (building $1,203.62, electrical on $12,000 $169.41, plumbing on $10,000 $145.03, mechanical on $8,000 $120.65) is about $1,660.71 County and $2,135.71 with the City, before any tree review.
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Garage converted to an ADU, $60,000 | City LDIRL + County plan review and permits | About $1,424.52 in fees; conversion of existing space still requires plan review |
| New detached ADU under 1,000 heated sq ft, $150,000 | City LDIRL + County plan review and permits | About $2,135.71 plus tree review if trees are affected |
| Basement apartment inside the house | City LDIRL + County plan review | An ADU within the principal dwelling is permitted; conversion into an ADU is on the County plan review list |
| Detached ADU over 1,000 heated sq ft | Not allowed | UDO cap regardless of the house size |
| Second ADU on the lot | Not allowed | Only one ADU is permitted per lot |
| ADU in an RV, camper or travel trailer | Not allowed | Excluded by the City's ADU definition |
| Selling the ADU separately from the house | Not allowed | The ADU and principal dwelling must stay under the same ownership |
How does the two-agency process work?
File the City LDIRL first in Charlotte's Accela Citizen Access: a professionally prepared site plan, plans with building elevations, the building height form, the accessory structure or ADU declaration, and a GIS addressing request so the unit gets its own address. Pay the fee after the 3-day gateway; the detailed review takes 7 days per cycle. Then submit to Mecklenburg County through the RTAC Electronic Plan Submittal path in AccelaMeck: one PDF of plans up to 40MB, the zoning and erosion control forms, and every trade contractor listed. The County's goal is a 7-day average review, state law requires the initial review within 15 business days, and a third review cycle is billed at $145 per hour.
Who can build it?
A general contractor licensed in North Carolina is required when the contract is $40,000 or more, which covers nearly every ADU, and contracts over $40,000 inside Charlotte need a $2,000 bond with the County. You may act as your own general contractor if you will occupy the property and do not intend to sell or rent it within a year; the County requires a notarized owner exemption affidavit and a bond account for projects of $40,000 or more.
How to Get a ADU Permit in Charlotte
Confirm size and placement
Check the 600 square foot or 70 percent rule and the 1,000 heated square foot cap, the 3 foot and 5 foot separations, and the driveway rule; call 704-336-7600 for a setback determination.
File the City LDIRL
In Accela Citizen Access, submit the site plan, elevations, height form, ADU declaration and GIS addressing request; pay $475 after the 3-day gateway for the 7-day review.
Submit County plans
In AccelaMeck choose the RTAC Plan Review Path, upload one PDF of plans with the zoning and erosion control forms, and list every trade contractor.
Pay valuation-based fees
Building and trade permits priced by the fee table: about $949.52 for a $60,000 conversion, about $1,660.71 for a $150,000 detached unit.
Build through inspections to final
Request footing, framing, trade rough-in, insulation and final inspections at 704-336-8000; the unit may be occupied only after all finals and the certificate are issued.