Atlanta, GA
What permit does an ADU need in Atlanta?
Atlanta treats an accessory dwelling unit as a project-specific addition or conversion with zoning, building, trade, and occupancy review.
13 guide citations · Reviewed Sep 12, 2026View location →
Project topic
Accessory dwelling unit (ADU) permit guides
Trace the full path from eligibility to legal occupancy.
Zoning, occupancy, utilities, building permits, and final approval.
Browse all project topics ↗Austin, TXPermit required
What permit does an ADU need in Austin?
Austin ADUs require property eligibility, a new address or building number, a residential building permit, related trade permits, inspections, and a Certificate of Occupancy. Starting October 1, 2026, residential plan review also includes lighting-control checks when the project enters that review path.
13 guide citations · Reviewed Sep 15, 2026View location →
Boston, MAPermit required
What permit does an ADU need in Boston?
Boston ADUs require a long-form building permit, related trade permits, possible zoning relief, inspections, and a Certificate of Occupancy. Boston now directs applicants to its online permitting portal for application, payment, status checks, and approved-permit printing.
17 guide citations · Reviewed Sep 15, 2026View location →
Charlotte, NCPermit required
What permits does an ADU need in Charlotte?
A Charlotte ADU requires City Individual Residential Lot review plus Mecklenburg County building and trade permits, inspections and occupancy approval.
5 guide citations · Reviewed Oct 18, 2026View location →
Chicago, IL
What permit does an ADU need in Chicago?
Chicago evaluates a secondary dwelling as a change in dwelling configuration with building, zoning, life-safety, trade, and possible occupancy review.
16 guide citations · Reviewed Sep 12, 2026View location →
City and County of Denver, COPermit required
What permit does an ADU need in Denver?
A Denver ADU requires zoning eligibility, a new or additional address request, building and trade permits, and inspections before occupancy.
12 guide citations · Reviewed Sep 12, 2026View location →
City of Fort Worth, TXConditional
What kind of accessory dwelling is allowed in Fort Worth?
Fort Worth uses a restrictive citywide accessory-dwelling definition: a detached, non-rented guest or family facility without cooking equipment.
6 guide citations · Reviewed Oct 24, 2026View location →
City of Houston, TXPermit required
What permit does an ADU need in Houston?
A Houston detached second dwelling unit requires site-specific building and trade permits even when the owner starts from the City's preliminary-reviewed free ADU plans.
4 guide citations · Reviewed Oct 18, 2026View location →
City of Jacksonville, FLConditional
Can a Jacksonville property add an accessory dwelling unit?
A garage apartment or other secondary dwelling is parcel-specific in Jacksonville and requires zoning confirmation plus building and trade permits when allowed.
6 guide citations · Reviewed Oct 24, 2026View location →
City of Los Angeles, CAPermit required
What permit does an ADU need in Los Angeles?
Los Angeles ADUs follow the city ordinance, development standards, LADBS permit review, inspections, and possible planning or housing conditions.
20 guide citations · Reviewed Sep 12, 2026View location →
City of Miami, FL
What permit does an ADU need in Miami?
An ADU or secondary dwelling requires address-specific zoning, building, trade, flood, and occupancy review.
13 guide citations · Reviewed Sep 12, 2026View location →
City of New York, NY
What permit path applies to an ADU or secondary unit in New York City?
NYC accepts Ancillary Dwelling Unit applications under Local Law 127 through DOB NOW: Build. Eligibility depends on the home, lot and ADU configuration; the separate basement/cellar legalization pilot is not yet accepting applications.
19 guide citations · Reviewed Sep 13, 2026View location →
City of Phoenix, AZPermit required
What permit does an ADU need in Phoenix?
A Phoenix ADU requires site-planning approval and residential plan review; current zoning can allow multiple ADUs on some single-family lots, but each project remains site-specific.
5 guide citations · Reviewed Oct 18, 2026View location →
City of Portland, ORPermit required
What permit does an ADU need in Portland?
A Portland ADU requires a building permit plus electrical, plumbing and mechanical trade permits, with zoning, utility, system-development-charge and inspection requirements.
6 guide citations · Reviewed Oct 17, 2026View location →
City of Seattle, WAPermit required
What permit does an ADU need in Seattle?
Adding, building, or legalizing an attached or detached ADU requires a Seattle construction permit. Seattle’s updated sanitary and side-sewer review now runs in parallel with SDCI building-permit review when an IPR record applies, while an MUP review may still be paused when eligible.
18 guide citations + 2 supplement sources · Reviewed Sep 17, 2026View location →
Columbus, OHPermit required
What permits does a Columbus accessory dwelling unit need?
A Columbus ADU needs parcel-specific zoning and building approval, plans, related trade permits and final inspections. Confirm the applicable building-code route with BZS; historic and architectural review areas also require a certificate of appropriateness or approval.
8 guide citations · Reviewed Oct 24, 2026View location →
Dallas, TXPermit required
What permits does an ADU need in Dallas?
Dallas does not allow an ADU by right in most cases; obtain zoning authorization through an applicable ADU overlay or Board of Adjustment special exception before building permits.
4 guide citations · Reviewed Oct 18, 2026View location →
District of Columbia, DCPermit required
What permits does an accessory dwelling unit need in Washington, DC?
A new or converted District accessory apartment requires site-specific zoning and building review, construction and trade permits, and final inspections before occupancy.
5 guide citations · Reviewed Oct 18, 2026View location →
Las Vegas, NVConditional
What approvals apply to an accessory dwelling or casita in Las Vegas?
Las Vegas treats an ADU, casita or converted accessory structure as a parcel-specific land-use and building project rather than a universal no-plan permit.
5 guide citations · Reviewed Oct 24, 2026View location →
Louisville Metro, KYConditional
What approvals does an accessory dwelling unit need in Louisville?
Louisville allows one attached or detached ADU on an eligible single-family lot subject to planning approval, owner occupancy, design standards and a building permit.
5 guide citations · Reviewed Oct 24, 2026View location →
Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, TNPermit required
What permits does a detached accessory dwelling unit need in Nashville?
A Nashville detached accessory dwelling unit requires zoning eligibility, a licensed contractor, a residential building permit and all applicable trade and property reviews.
5 guide citations · Reviewed Oct 18, 2026View location →
Minneapolis, MNPermit required
What permits does an accessory dwelling unit need in Minneapolis?
A Minneapolis ADU requires an administrative land-use application, a building permit and all applicable trade permits, followed by inspections before occupancy.
5 guide citations · Reviewed Oct 18, 2026View location →
Oklahoma City, OKConditional
Can a property add an accessory dwelling in Oklahoma City?
Oklahoma City now permits one accessory dwelling on eligible Urban Medium or Urban High parcels, subject to zoning, size, height, coverage, setback and parking rules.
6 guide citations · Reviewed Oct 24, 2026View location →
Philadelphia, PA
What permit does an ADU need in Philadelphia?
Philadelphia does not provide a universal ADU exemption; an accessory unit is evaluated as a use, zoning, building, and trade project for the address. The city's current Landlord Gateway also points owners to Permit Navigator for renovation permit and license planning.
15 guide citations · Reviewed Sep 17, 2026View location →
Raleigh, NCConditional
What permit path applies to an accessory dwelling unit in Raleigh?
Raleigh ADUs need a project-specific permit path and residential or commercial code review. Duplex configurations and higher unit counts can trigger commercial review; two ADUs are limited to designated Frequent Transit Areas.
7 guide citations · Reviewed Oct 24, 2026View location →
Sacramento, CAPermit required
What approvals does an accessory dwelling unit need in Sacramento?
Sacramento requires parcel-specific planning clearance and a building permit for an attached, detached or converted accessory dwelling unit.
5 guide citations · Reviewed Oct 24, 2026View location →
San Antonio, TXPermit required
What permits does a San Antonio accessory dwelling unit need?
A San Antonio ADU requires a residential building permit, recorded owner-occupancy affidavit, plans, assigned reviews, inspections and a Certificate of Occupancy.
6 guide citations · Reviewed Oct 24, 2026View location →
San Diego, CAPermit required
What permit does an ADU need in San Diego?
Every San Diego ADU or JADU requires a building permit, with zoning, coastal, utility, energy, fire and trade requirements determined by the site and project type.
3 guide citations · Reviewed Oct 17, 2026View location →
San Francisco, CAPermit required
What permits does an ADU need in San Francisco?
A San Francisco ADU requires site-specific Planning and building review, construction plans, applicable notices, trade permits and final inspections before occupancy.
6 guide citations · Reviewed Oct 18, 2026View location →
Tucson, AZPermit required
What permits does a Tucson accessory dwelling unit need?
A Tucson casita or ADU requires building, zoning and utility review. Current rules allow two ADUs on a qualifying family-dwelling parcel, one on a duplex parcel, and an additional unit under the affordable-housing acreage provisions.
9 guide citations · Reviewed Oct 24, 2026View location →