ADU builder & guest suites in Charlotte, NC. Built to code.
An ADU can house family, create rental income or give you a place for guests. We build accessory dwelling units for Charlotte-area homeowners, and we start with what the City allows on your lot.
What an ADU is
An accessory dwelling unit is a small, separate home on the same lot as your main house. It can be a detached backyard cottage, a unit above or beside a garage or a conversion of existing space. It has its own entrance, kitchen and bath.
People build them for aging parents, adult children, guests, long-term tenants or as a work and living space. The use shapes the design, so start there.
What the City of Charlotte says
The City of Charlotte allows ADUs on a property with a single-family home, or a duplex that is not on a sublot.
Only one ADU is allowed per lot, and it must stay under the same ownership as the main home.
Owners may rent out an ADU.
ADUs need a City of Charlotte permit (LDIRL) and a Mecklenburg County building permit.
The City’s MyADU Eligibility Tool gives an early read on whether an ADU may work at your address.
Source: City of Charlotte, Accessory Dwelling Units. Rules change and every property is different, so we confirm what applies at your address before the scope is final.
Guest suites and in-law suites
A guest suite is a bedroom and bath for visitors, parents or a grown child, with or without a kitchenette. If it has its own kitchen, bath, entrance and living space, it is an ADU. If it is a bedroom and bath attached to your home, it is more likely an addition, and the City decides which rules apply. We work out which path fits your lot and your family early, because it changes the permits, the cost and what you can do with the space.
Either way, plan for the people who will use it: a bath on the same floor, a step-free entrance, a door that locks and a bit of privacy from the main house.
Planning the build
An ADU involves more than the building. We look at where it fits on the lot, access, setbacks, utility connections for water, sewer, electric and gas, drainage and how it relates to the main house. A site plan with these in mind comes first.
Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement says new residential construction and additions require plan review, so drawings are part of the process. We coordinate with your designer or draftsperson, or help you find one.
Detached, garage or conversion?
Detached cottage — The most privacy and flexibility. Needs its own foundation and utilities.
Garage ADU — A unit above or beside a garage. Shares some structure and utilities.
Conversion — Turning existing space, such as a garage, into a dwelling. The structure, insulation and egress all have to meet code.
Permits and plan review
ADUs need both a City of Charlotte permit and a Mecklenburg County building permit, and Mecklenburg’s Code Enforcement says residential new construction and additions require plan review.
Sources: City of Charlotte, ADUs and Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement, Permitting. Rules change and every property is different, so we confirm what applies at your address before the scope is final.
What to send when you get in touch
Your property address and whether you own the site
How you plan to use it, approximate size and must-have features
Any survey, plans or inspiration images
Your preferred timing
ADUs & Guest Suites: common questions
Something else? Call (704) 977-6512 or send us a note.
Can I build an ADU on my lot?
That depends on the property, local rules and site conditions. The City of Charlotte’s MyADU Eligibility Tool is a good first step, and we confirm feasibility for your address.
Does Charlotte allow ADUs?
Yes. According to the City, only one ADU is allowed per lot, it must stay under the same ownership as the main home, and owners may rent it out. ADUs need a City permit and a Mecklenburg County building permit.
Do I need plans before contacting you?
No. Tell us what you are thinking about and share any survey or drawings you have.
Can I rent my ADU?
According to the City of Charlotte, owners may rent out an ADU.
Can you convert my garage to an ADU?
Often, yes. The structure, insulation, egress and utilities have to meet code, and the project needs permits.