Virginia Beach building & ADU permits

Accessory dwelling units in Virginia are handled locally; without a statewide ADU mandate, rules differ by city and county.

Virginia has no statewide upzoning law; residential density is set by local zoning, with several Northern Virginia jurisdictions pursuing reform.

Virginia Beach regulates accessory dwelling units at the district level rather than through a single citywide ADU ordinance, and Virginia has no statewide mandate requiring localities to allow them. Accessory dwellings are generally permitted in the city's single-family residential districts, with the specific standards — and whether an ADU is allowed at all — varying by zoning district under the City Zoning Ordinance.

Across districts, a Virginia Beach accessory dwelling must sit on the same lot as the primary home, its size is typically tied to a share of the principal dwelling's floor area or an absolute cap that depends on the district, and owner-occupancy is generally required. A proposal that meets the baseline requirements for its district — size, setbacks, and lot coverage — can usually proceed through building-permit review; a project that does not conform to those standards may need a special exception decided after a public hearing.

Because the rules differ meaningfully from one district to the next, homeowners are encouraged to confirm their parcel's zoning district and its specific accessory-dwelling standards with the Planning Department before designing a unit.

This is an informational summary — verify current rules with the city's planning/permitting department; not legal advice.

See also: Virginia ADU law and what is an ADU?