Charlotte ADU permit requirements
Last reviewed: June 22, 2026
Quick answer
Permitting an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) in Charlotte, North Carolina means pulling a building permit from the local authority that issues it. ArchPermit tracks 13 source-cited requirements (10 required, the rest conditional) for this jurisdiction. Submittals go through City LDIRL (Accela) + Mecklenburg County WebPermit / RTAC. These requirements were last reviewed June 22, 2026; confirm the exact forms and fees with the local permitting authority.
A source-cited checklist of what an ADU (accessory dwelling unit) permit package needs in City of Charlotte. Every item links to its authoritative source; items that vary are flagged to confirm locally.
Charlotte splits review: the City of Charlotte LDIRL zoning permit (Accela — zoning, stormwater, urban-forestry) must be approved before Mecklenburg County issues the building permit (NC building-code plan review via County WebPermit / RTAC). ADUs are allowed accessory to a single-family dwelling (or a duplex not on sublots) in districts where the principal use is allowed; one ADU per lot, same ownership, clearly subordinate. An accessory-structure ADU is capped at 50% of the principal dwelling's floor area and 1,000 heated sf (UDO §15.6). Same ownership is required, but no owner-occupancy (must-live-on-site) mandate was found.
- Accessory Structure / ADU Declaration Formrequired
Signed City form (Rev. March 2025) declaring whether the accessory structure contains an ADU; recites the UDO §15.6 ADU standards.
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Completed Electronic Permit Application (all trades)required
County electronic permit application, complete and including all associated trade contractors (RTAC Plan Review Path).
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Construction / Building-Code Plans (County combined PDF)required
One combined PDF (≤40 MB), legible, to scale on min 17×11 sheets, with CAD sheet naming, bookmarked, and designer/architect/engineer contact info.
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Erosion-Control / Land-Disturbance Formrequiredverify locally
The County requires the necessary zoning and erosion-control forms uploaded with the application (exact form name to confirm).
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - GIS Addressing Documentation (new ADU address)required
A new address must be assigned to the ADU via Mecklenburg County GIS; addressing documentation is a required ADU submittal.
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Heated/Unheated Square-Footage Labelingrequired
Drawings must identify heated and unheated square footage of each story plus a project total (feeds the ADU 1,000-sf / 50% size check).
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Plans with Building Elevationsrequired
Architectural plans including building elevations for the ADU.
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Recorded Plat (infill ADU)requiredverify locally
For an ADU on an existing infill lot, the lot must be shown on a plat recorded at the Register of Deeds before LDIRL/County review (confirm whether a copy must be uploaded).
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Site Plan (professionally prepared)required
Scaled, professionally prepared site plan/survey (not hand-drawn) showing vicinity map, streets, building-to-property-line distances, lot area, setbacks, building coverage, driveway/sidewalk, trees, buffers, and existing storm drainage.
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Stormwater Plan Itemsrequired
The City stormwater review requires the site plan to show address/PIN, dimensioned property/right-of-way lines, easements, existing structures, lot area, proposed construction, land disturbance, and minor drainage routing.
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Built-Upon-Area (BUA) Tabulation / PCSR Summaryconditional
Required where Post-Construction Stormwater Regs or Water Supply Watershed Protection apply (≥5,000 sf BUA, ≥1 acre disturbance, or watershed lots).
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Sealed Flood / Stormwater-Protection Studyconditional
Required for properties subject to flooding — sealed PE design calcs + grading plans; a revised plat may be required before occupancy.
source · reviewed 2026-06-22 - Urban Forestry / Tree-Preservation Submittalconditional
Required if code-protected, Heritage, right-of-way, or Tree-Save trees exist on the lot (City tree checklists, Tier 1/2/3).
source · reviewed 2026-06-22