Sometimes. Since December 12, 2025 (BL2025-1007) a detached accessory dwelling unit (DADU) is permitted with conditions on any RS, R, RM or AG lot inside Nashville's Urban Services District, with no overlay and no hearing, but in the General Services District a DADU still needs a DADU overlay, an SP or a UDO that allows one (Metro Code 17.16.030.G.11). Living space is capped at 700 sq ft on lots under 10,000 sq ft and 850 sq ft on lots of 10,000 sq ft or more, never larger than the house, with a 10 ft eave (17 ft for two stories) and 27 ft ridge limit (17.16.030.G.7). A DADU with a footprint of 850 sq ft or less sits behind the house with a 3 ft rear setback and a side setback of half the district's, never under 3 ft (17.12.040.E.1.a); it needs one parking space, the owner must live in one of the two units, and a restrictive covenant is recorded before the permit issues. A registered contractor must pull the permit; Metro Codes charges $5 per $1,000 of construction value plus a $25 zoning exam fee and a 10% tech fee, and Metro Water Services charges $1,375 water and $2,300 sewer capacity fees per unit of flow. Short-term rental is barred in any new DADU on an RS, RN or RL lot.
Zoning & Size Requirements [1][2][3][4][5]
Sometimes — Nashville allows ADUs, but not by right on a typical lot. Inside the Urban Services District a DADU has been permitted with conditions on any RS, R, RM or AG lot since December 12, 2025 (BL2025-1007): no overlay, no hearing, just a zoning examiner's check of Metro Code 17.16.030.G. In the General Services District, which covers the county's outer suburbs, a DADU is allowed only where a council-adopted DADU overlay, an SP or a UDO provides for one.
| Allowed Zones | Permitted with conditions (PC) in AG/AR2a, RS80 through RS3.75-A, R80 through R6-A, RM2 through RM100-A-NS and OR20 through ORI-A-NS districts (17.08.030 land-use table as amended by BL2025-1007 Exhibit A), but only on lots inside the Urban Services District, inside a DADU overlay in the General Services District, or in an SP/UDO with DADU standards (17.16.030.G.11). The lot must hold exactly one single-family principal structure |
| Max Size (Detached) | 700 sq ft of living space on lots under 10,000 sq ft; 850 sq ft on lots of 10,000 sq ft or more; never larger than the principal house (17.16.030.G.7.a, as amended December 4, 2025). The DADU footprint may not exceed the house footprint, and no other accessory building may exceed 200 sq ft once a DADU is on the lot (G.1.b) |
| Max Size (Attached) | Not a category in Metro's code: a unit above a garage or attached to a workshop is still a DADU (17.04.060). A second unit inside or attached to the house is a different use (accessory apartment or two-family); ask the Zoning Help Desk which your district allows |
| Max Size (JADU) | N/A. Metro Nashville has no junior ADU category; an accessory apartment within the house is a separate use with its own Chapter 17.16 standards and a 1-space parking requirement (Table 17.20.030) |
| Max Height | Eave no higher than the house's eave line and at most 10 ft for a one-story or 17 ft for a two-story DADU, measured from average finished grade; ridge lower than the house's and at most 27 ft (17.16.030.G.7.b-c). A second-story unit needs interior, fire-rated stairs (G.9.b) |
| Max Units | 1 DADU per lot, and only where a single single-family principal structure stands; two principal structures on a lot means no DADU; the DADU can never be split from the ownership of the house (17.16.030.G.3) |
Setback Requirements [1][2][3][4][5]
Nashville requires a rear setback of about 3 ft for a detached ADU, and one off-street parking space is required. Owner-occupancy is required.
| Rear Setback | 3 ft minimum for a DADU with a footprint of 850 sq ft or less located behind the house; 10 ft where garage or carport doors open directly onto an alley; a footprint over 850 sq ft must meet the full district rear setback (17.12.040.E.1.a). No building over an easement or a platted setback |
| Side Setback | One-half of the zoning district's side setback but never less than 3 ft, for a footprint of 850 sq ft or less behind the house; the full district setback applies above 850 sq ft (17.12.040.E.1.a). On a corner lot the full side-street setback of Table 17.12.030.A applies |
| Front Setback | Not allowed in front: a DADU may only be located behind the principal structure in the rear buildable area of the lot (17.16.030.G.5) |
| Parking Required | 1 off-street space for the DADU, in addition to the house's 2 (Table 17.20.030 as amended by BL2025-1007 Exhibit B; no maximum in the UZO). A lot without alley access gets one curb cut and one driveway no wider than 12 ft serving both units; a lot with an alley must take any new access from the alley (17.16.030.G.6) |
| Owner Occupancy | Required: the DADU must be owned by the same person or entity as the house and one of the two dwellings must be owner-occupied (17.16.030.G.3.d); a restrictive covenant saying so is recorded with the Register of Deeds ($12) before the permit issues (G.10) |
| Min Lot Size | No DADU-specific minimum since December 12, 2025 (the former 15,000 sq ft and alley-access rules are gone); the lot must meet the minimum lot area of its own zoning district in Table 17.12.020.A (17.16.030.G.2). 10,000 sq ft is only the line between the 700 and 850 sq ft size caps |
Permit Process & Fees [6][7][8][9][10]
An ADU permit in Nashville goes through a standard permit review. Review time: not published: Metro Codes posts no review-time target for residential permits. The permit issues once the zoning examiner's checklist of agency sign-offs is complete and the covenant is recorded; Codes says to allow plenty of time and to track the application in ePermits. Fees range from $5.00 per $1,000 of construction value (Metro Code 16.28.110.A.1) plus a $25 zoning exam fee and a 10% Codes tech fee; no plan-review fee for one- and two-family work. A 700 sq ft DADU valued on the ICC table at $169.09/sq ft (about $118,000) comes to roughly $675 before trade permits.
| Approval Process | A registered contractor must pull the permit; owners may not self-permit a new DADU or a garage-to-DADU conversion (Metro Codes DADU page, updated December 22, 2025). File the Residential Permit Application through Codes ePermits or the Zoning Help Desk with a site plan showing property lines, setbacks and easements, elevations from all four corners showing eave and ridge heights, and a floor plan showing the living-space area. A zoning examiner checks the 17.16.030.G conditions and issues a checklist of sign-offs: Metro Water Services (availability and capacity fees), Stormwater for added impervious area, the Historic Zoning Commission in a historic overlay, and Planning in an SP or UDO. Record the DADU restrictive covenant with the Register of Deeds, collect the sign-offs, pay the fees, then schedule inspections. Plumbing, electrical and gas/mechanical permits are pulled separately by licensed trades |
| Review Timeline | Not published: Metro Codes posts no review-time target for residential permits. The permit issues once the zoning examiner's checklist of agency sign-offs is complete and the covenant is recorded; Codes says to allow plenty of time and to track the application in ePermits |
| Permit Fees | $5.00 per $1,000 of construction value (Metro Code 16.28.110.A.1) plus a $25 zoning exam fee and a 10% Codes tech fee; no plan-review fee for one- and two-family work. A 700 sq ft DADU valued on the ICC table at $169.09/sq ft (about $118,000) comes to roughly $675 before trade permits |
| Impact Fees | No development impact fee appears in the Codes fee schedule, but Metro Water Services charges capacity fees of $1,375 (water) and $2,300 (sewer) per 350-gallon-per-day unit of flow, a stormwater capacity fee of $0.71 per sq ft of new impervious area, and tap fees if the DADU gets its own meter ($500 for a 5/8-inch water tap, $360 for a 6-inch sewer tap) (MWS Development Fee Schedule, Schedule 15.10.110, rev. January 28, 2025). Ask MWS how many units of flow your DADU is assessed |
| Plan Check | The plans-examination fee is waived for one- and two-family permits (16.28.110.G.2). Codes does not normally require construction drawings for houses under 5,000 sq ft; a DADU still needs the site plan, four-corner elevations and floor plan for the zoning examiner, and building, electrical, plumbing, energy and gas/mechanical compliance is checked by field inspection |
| Pre-Approved Plans | None. Metro Nashville offers no pre-approved DADU plans; the design must match the house's style, roof form and pitch and material colors, with dormers covering no more than 50% of the roof and set back at least 2 ft from the exterior wall (17.16.030.G.8) |
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Construction Costs [11][12][13][14]
Building an ADU in Nashville typically costs $200,000-$300,000 ($250-$475 per sq ft); a garage conversion runs $70,000-$120,000.
See what this means for your lot — ask Nashville ADU builders for a quote →
| Average Build Cost | $200,000-$300,000 |
| Cost per Sq Ft | $250-$475 |
| Garage Conversion | $70,000-$120,000 |
| Prefab ADU (Installed) | $200,000-$400,000 |
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Rental Income Potential [15][16]
A 2-bedroom ADU in Nashville rents for around $1,850-$2,100/mo, an estimated A 700 sq ft one-bedroom DADU renting at $1,600-$1,750/mo on a $200,000-$300,000 build is a 6-10% gross yield, or a 10-15 year payback before taxes, vacancy, insurance and financing.
| Avg Rent (1 Bedroom) | $1,600-$1,750/mo |
| Avg Rent (2 Bedroom) | $1,850-$2,100/mo |
| Short-Term Rental | No for new DADUs on single-family (RS), RN or RL lots: owner-occupied short-term rental (STRP) is not a permitted use in a DADU built or converted from an accessory structure after December 12, 2025 (17.16.030.G.12); the. |
| Est. Annual ROI | A 700 sq ft one-bedroom DADU renting at $1,600-$1,750/mo on a $200,000-$300,000 build is a 6-10% gross yield, or a 10-15 year payback before taxes, vacancy, insurance and financing. |
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Recent Law Changes
What's Changed Recently
- December 12, 2025 - BL2025-1007 took effect (passed third reading December 4, signed December 8): DADUs became a base-code 'permitted with conditions' use in AG, RS, R, RM and OR districts inside the Urban Services District; the DADU overlay, 15,000 sq ft lot, alley-access and historic/UDO prerequisites were removed (17.16.030.G)
- December 4, 2025 - Council Amendment 1 (Johnston) cut the size caps before passage: living space is 700 sq ft on lots under 10,000 sq ft and 850 sq ft on larger lots, not the 850 / 1,200 sq ft in the Planning Commission version (the previous code allowed a flat 700 sq ft)
- December 12, 2025 - Owner-occupied short-term rental (STRP) barred in any DADU built or converted after that date on RS, RN or RL lots (17.16.030.G.12)
- December 12, 2025 - Accessory-building coverage for the reduced 3 ft setbacks and the coverage cap rose from 750 to 850 sq ft (17.12.040.E.1.a, 17.12.050); DADU parking set at 1 space (Table 17.20.030)
- December 12, 2025 - The DADU overlay now serves only the General Services District (17.36.680-.730); existing overlays stay until cancelled; Planning must report DADU permit counts and infrastructure costs to Council by April 30, 2027 (Amendment 3)
Tips for Building an ADU in Nashville
- Open Metro Parcel Viewer first: the zoning tab shows whether your lot is in the Urban Services District (DADU allowed by right with conditions) or the General Services District (DADU overlay, SP or UDO required), plus any historic, UDO or PUD overlay
- Your deed's lot area decides the cap: under 10,000 sq ft means 700 sq ft of living space, 10,000 sq ft or more means 850 sq ft, and either way the DADU must be smaller than the house in area and lower at the eave and ridge
- Keep the footprint at or below 850 sq ft (garage and porch included) to use the 3 ft rear and half-side setbacks; a larger footprint must meet the full district setbacks, and nothing may sit over an easement or platted setback
- Converting an existing garage or workshop into a DADU follows the same rules: contractor-pulled permit, covenant, size cap, and no short-term rental on an RS lot
- In a historic overlay the Metro Historic Zoning Commission issues a separate preservation permit and enforces its own setback, size and design guidelines on top of 17.16.030.G
- Budget the utility side: Metro Water Services capacity fees ($1,375 water, $2,300 sewer per unit of flow), a $0.71/sq ft stormwater capacity fee on new impervious area, plus $500 water and $360 sewer tap fees if you want separate meters, which the code allows
- Cost basis: Nashville DADU builders and designers quote $200,000-$300,000+ for a finished 400-900 sq ft detached unit at $250-$475 per sq ft (Fabl Design; Nashville Garage Apartments $240,000-$310,000 for garage-plus-apartment builds); garage-to-ADU conversions $70,000-$120,000+ (Dapper Builders, May 21, 2026); prefab installed $200,000-$400,000 nationally with the factory unit only 40-60% of the total (Dwelling Index, May 27, 2026). Rents from RentCafe (Aug 31, 2026: 1BR $1,697, 2BR $2,057) and Zumper (Sept 19, 2026 medians: 1BR $1,635, 2BR $1,860)
- Cost basis (2026-09-20 re-verification): short term allowed: No for new DADUs on single-family (RS), RN or RL lots: owner-occupied short-term rental (STRP) is not a permitted use in a DADU built or converted from an accessory structure after December 12, 2025 (17.16.030.G.12); the same bar applies inside DADU overlays (17.36.710). Long-term leases are allowed, the unit may have its own utility meters (G.13), and the owner must live in one of the two units | roi estimate: A 700 sq ft one-bedroom DADU renting at $1,600-$1,750/mo on a $200,000-$300,000 build is a 6-10% gross yield, or a 10-15 year payback before taxes, vacancy, insurance and financing. There is no short-term-rental premium on RS lots
ADU Builders in Nashville
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Sources & References
All data on this page is sourced from official government records and verified market data. View our full methodology.
- Metro Council BL2025-1007 (Proposal 2025Z-011TX-001), matter record: text as passed on third reading, history (passed Dec 4, 2025; approved by Mayor Dec 8; effective Dec 12, 2025) | Nashville Legistar ordinance — Accessed 2026-09-20
- BL2025-1007 Second Substitute (Sections 1-12: 17.04.060 definition, 17.08.030 Exhibit A land-use table, 17.12.040.E.1.a, 17.12.050, 17.16.030.G, 17.20.030 Exhibit B, 17.36.680-.730) ordinance — Accessed 2026-09-20
- BL2025-1007 Amendment No. 1 (Johnston), adopted Dec 4, 2025: 17.16.030.G.7.a living space 700 sq ft (< 10,000 sq ft lots) / 850 sq ft (10,000 sq ft or more) ordinance — Accessed 2026-09-20
- BL2025-1007 Amendment No. 3 (Druffel), adopted Dec 4, 2025: Planning report on DADU permits and infrastructure costs due April 30, 2027 ordinance — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Building Permits Central: I Want to Build a Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit (DADU) - eligibility, 17.16.030.G conditions, setbacks, application checklist (page updated Dec 22, 2025) | Metro Codes and Building Safety building_dept — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Building Permits Central: I Want to Build a DADU - contractor-only permit, required drawings, zoning examiner checklist, historic/SP/UDO routing | Metro Codes and Building Safety building_dept — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Codes Fee Schedule: Metro Code 16.28.110 building permit fees ($5.00 per $1,000 residential), $25 zoning exam fee, 10% tech fee, 16.12.220 plumbing, 16.16.400 gas/mechanical, 16.20.250 electrical, ICC Building Valuation Data Feb 2025 (posted Dec 2025) | Metro Codes and Building Safety fee_schedule — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Restrictive Covenants - covenant for accessory dwelling / detached structures, $12 Register of Deeds recording fee | Metro Codes Zoning Examinations building_dept — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Residential Building Permits - drawings normally required, elevation drawings for detached accessory structures | Metro Codes and Building Safety building_dept — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Metro Water Services Development Fee Schedule (Schedule 15.10.110, rev. Jan 28, 2025): water capacity $1,375 and sewer capacity $2,300 per 350 GPD unit of flow, stormwater capacity $0.71/sq ft, water and sewer tap fees fee_schedule — Accessed 2026-09-20
- DADU Cost in Nashville: What It Really Costs to Build a Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit ($200,000-$300,000+, $250-$475 per sq ft) | Fabl Design industry — Accessed 2026-09-20
- DADU Cost Nashville ($240,000-$260,000 smaller, $290,000-$310,000 larger garage-plus-apartment builds) | Nashville Garage Apartments industry — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Garage Conversion Cost Nashville, TN: 2026 Pricing Guide (full ADU $70,000-$120,000+, $200-$340 per sq ft; May 21, 2026) | Dapper Builders industry — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Prefab Modular ADU: 2026 Costs, Code Paths & Lot Fit (installed $200,000-$400,000+; updated May 27, 2026) | Dwelling Index industry — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Average Rent in Nashville, TN (as of Aug 31, 2026: 1BR $1,697, 2BR $2,057) | RentCafe Market Data — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Average Rent in Nashville, TN (updated Sept 19, 2026: median 1BR $1,635, 2BR $1,860) | Zumper Market Data — Accessed 2026-09-20
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