Can I build an ADU on my single-family lot in Pulaski County now?

Yes, with important distinctions. Inside Little Rock city limits, Ordinance 22,647 now allows one accessory dwelling unit as a permitted, by-right use on any single-family lot, so long as the ADU is smaller than the primary home and meets standard setback, lot coverage, and height rules. In unincorporated Pulaski County, some zoning districts may still require a Conditional Use Permit and a public hearing before the Planning Board. The path forward depends on exactly where your property sits.

Key Takeaways

• Arkansas Act 313 of 2025 requires all municipalities, including those in Pulaski County, to allow ADUs in single-family zones by right.
• Inside Little Rock, Ordinance 22,647 caps ADUs at 1,000 square feet or 75% of the primary home's gross floor area, whichever is smaller.
• Act 313 prohibits municipalities from requiring additional off-street parking for a new ADU and limits application fees to $250.
• Only one ADU is permitted per parcel, and the primary single-family dwelling must exist before the ADU can be built or occupied.
• Recent local market data shows the Little Rock area median sale price at $300,000, with homes selling in a median of 17 days, making rental income from an ADU a genuinely compelling option in today's market.

There's a moment in almost every conversation I have with a Central Arkansas homeowner where they realize their property can do more than they thought. Lately, that moment keeps coming up around accessory dwelling units. A backyard cottage. A garage apartment. An in-law suite with its own entrance. For years, adding one of these to a single-family lot in Little Rock meant navigating a maze of special permits and uncertain approvals. That changed.

In 2025, the Arkansas legislature passed Act 313, a statewide law establishing a clear baseline for accessory dwelling units across every municipality in the state. Little Rock followed with its own implementing ordinance. The result is a more accessible, predictable path for homeowners and small investors who want to add a unit, generate income, or create flexible living space without a rezoning fight.

Here's what the update actually means, and why it matters right now in Pulaski County.

What changed, and what the new rules actually say

Before Act 313, the rules around ADUs in Arkansas were fragmented. Some cities allowed them, others didn't, and the process varied wildly. The 2025 law set a statewide floor: every municipality must allow ADUs in single-family zones, and local governments can't use parking requirements or excessive fees to quietly block them.

For Pulaski County homeowners, the practical effect flows through two documents: the state law itself and Little Rock Ordinance 22,647, which the city's Board of Directors adopted on June 3, 2025 to bring local code into compliance.

The size limits

An ADU in Little Rock cannot exceed 1,000 square feet or 75% of the gross floor area of the primary dwelling, whichever is smaller. So if your home is 1,100 square feet, your ADU is capped at 825 square feet, not 1,000. The ADU must also be smaller than the primary structure, full stop. These limits come directly from Act 313's statewide standards.

Parking and fees

Act 313 prohibits municipalities from requiring additional off-street parking spaces for a new ADU. If your lot already meets parking requirements for the primary home, you don't have to carve out a new dedicated spot for the ADU. The law also caps application fees at $250, which removes one of the most common quiet barriers local governments have used to slow ADU development.

What forms are allowed

The Little Rock ordinance allows ADUs that are attached, detached, or internal to the primary dwelling. A garage conversion, a backyard cottage, or a basement suite with its own entrance all qualify. The limit is one ADU per parcel, and the ADU must comply with the same setback, lot coverage, and height restrictions that apply to single-family structures in its zoning district. The zoning update opens the door, but it doesn't waive the neighborhood form rules that keep a backyard cottage from becoming a tower.

The primary home comes first

One rule worth knowing before you plan: the primary single-family dwelling must already exist on the parcel before an ADU can be built or occupied. You can't buy a vacant lot, skip the house, and build the ADU first. There's limited flexibility for a temporary use during construction, but the general requirement is clear. This protects existing neighborhoods from speculative ADU-only development on empty lots.

Inside city limits vs. unincorporated Pulaski County

This is the distinction that matters most if you're trying to figure out your own timeline.

Inside Little Rock: Ordinance 22,647 establishes a by-right framework. One ADU is a permitted use in all zoning districts when accessory to a qualifying single-family dwelling. You're not asking for a special exception. You're applying for a building permit under a use that's already allowed. That's a meaningful shift from the pre-2025 environment.

Unincorporated Pulaski County: The picture is more nuanced. In some districts, an accessory dwelling may still trigger a Conditional Use Permit process, which means filing an application by the monthly deadline, going through staff review, and appearing at a public hearing before the Pulaski County Planning Board and potentially the Board of Zoning Adjustment at 201 Broadway St. That's a longer runway. If your property is outside city limits, it's worth confirming which path applies before you start drawing plans.

The NAHB Zoning Reform Tracker describes Little Rock's Ordinance 22,647 as a "clear by-right framework" adopted in direct response to Act 313. That framing matters: the city's intent is to enable incremental density in existing neighborhoods, not to create a new permitting obstacle course.

Why this matters for homeowners and investors in 2026

The policy changes happened in 2025. The opportunity is fully in play now.

Recent local market data shows the Little Rock area median sale price at $300,000, with homes selling in a median of 17 days. Across the broader Pulaski County footprint, prices range from $117,000 in North Little Rock to $300,000 in Little Rock proper. That spread matters when you're thinking about ADU economics: a well-located lot in an established neighborhood carries real value, and a legal, permitted rental unit adds to it.

Here's the area context at a glance:

For homeowners, an ADU creates options: long-term rental income, housing for an aging parent, a space for an adult child, or a flex unit that adds value at resale. For investors already holding single-family properties in Pulaski County, the by-right path in Little Rock removes a meaningful barrier that used to require a variance or special-use approval.

There's also a short-term rental angle worth knowing about. Under Little Rock's zoning ordinance, an owner-occupied property can operate as a Type 1 short-term rental with up to nine bedrooms or guest rooms, and up to one of those rooms can be located in an approved accessory dwelling. That's a narrow lane, but it exists. If you're thinking about STR income, the owner-occupancy requirement and room-count limits apply, and I'd walk through those specifics with you before you plan around them.

I've been watching this policy shift closely because it directly affects the conversations I'm having with clients who are sitting on significant equity and looking for ways to put their property to work. The ADU path isn't right for every lot or every owner, but for the right situation, it's one of the more compelling options this market has opened up in a while. The economic momentum in Central Arkansas from healthcare, logistics, and state government is driving real housing demand, and a legal rental unit on a well-located lot is a direct way to participate in that.

Every situation turns on the specifics: your lot size, your zoning district, the age and footprint of your primary home, and your goals. That's exactly the kind of analysis I walk my clients through before any decision gets made.

I'd love to hear what you've been thinking. Read what other Central Arkansas homeowners and investors have said about working with me on Google, then let's talk through your specific property.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I build an ADU on my single-family lot in Little Rock without a special permit?

Yes. Under Ordinance 22,647, one ADU is now a permitted, by-right use in all Little Rock zoning districts when accessory to a qualifying single-family dwelling, so you apply for a standard building permit rather than a special use approval. The ADU must still meet size, setback, lot coverage, and height requirements for your district. In unincorporated Pulaski County, some zones may still require a Conditional Use Permit through the Planning Board, so confirm your property's jurisdiction first.

What is the maximum size for an ADU in Pulaski County under the new Arkansas law?

Under Act 313 of 2025, an ADU cannot exceed 1,000 square feet or 75% of the gross floor area of the primary dwelling, whichever is smaller. A 1,200-square-foot home, for example, would limit the ADU to 900 square feet, not the full 1,000. The ADU must always be smaller than the primary structure on the same lot.

Do I have to live on the property if I add an ADU, or can I rent it out?

Little Rock's Ordinance 22,647 does not impose an owner-occupancy requirement for a standard long-term rental ADU, so you can rent the unit without living on-site. If you want to use the ADU as part of a short-term rental operation, the city's STR-1 rules do require owner-occupancy of the primary dwelling, so that distinction matters depending on your intended use.

Does the new ADU ordinance change parking requirements or add extra fees?

Act 313 prohibits municipalities from requiring additional off-street parking for a new ADU, so if your primary home already meets parking requirements, you don't need to add a dedicated space for the ADU. Application fees are capped at $250 under the state law, which removes one of the most common cost barriers that historically slowed ADU approvals in Arkansas.

Is an attached ADU treated differently from a detached backyard cottage in Little Rock?

No, not in terms of whether it's allowed. Ordinance 22,647 permits attached, detached, and internal ADUs equally, all subject to the same size limits and the setback, lot coverage, and height rules of the underlying zoning district. The construction process and cost will differ between the two forms, but the zoning treatment is the same.

How many accessory units can I put on one lot in Pulaski County?

One. Both Act 313 and Little Rock's implementing ordinance cap ADUs at one per parcel. The ADU must also be smaller than the primary single-family dwelling, and the primary home must exist before the ADU can be built or occupied.

The ADU window in Pulaski County is open and clearer than it's ever been. Whether you're thinking about adding a unit for rental income, housing flexibility, or long-term property value, the right first step is understanding what your specific lot and zoning district allow.

Schedule a 15-minute game plan call and I'll walk through your property with you: Book your call here. Or download the investor guide if you'd rather start with the numbers on your own.

Equal Housing Opportunity. Amanda Galbraith, Principal Broker, License #PB00071133, regulated by the Arkansas Real Estate Commission. This article is general information only and does not constitute legal, tax, or financial advice. Confirm your specific situation with your title company, tax advisor, or lender before making any real estate decision.