Apple Valley allows attached-only "Accessory Unit Dwellings" (AUDs) through a discretionary Conditional Use Permit, restricted to large R-1 lots and capped at just 3 units citywide - one of the most restrictive ADU ordinances in the Twin Cities metro.
| ADU type | Max size | Max height | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attached (Accessory Unit Dwelling) | Specific square-footage cap not confirmed from available sources - what is confirmed: max 2 bedrooms | Not confirmed in available sources | Combined lot coverage (primary home + AUD + paved surfaces) is capped at 35% of the lot area |
Allowed zoning district: R-1 only, with a minimum lot size of 40,000 sq ft (roughly 1 acre) - a threshold that alone excludes most single-family lots in the city. Confirm your parcel's zoning district and lot size with the City of Apple Valley.
| Setbacks / height | Not confirmed in available sources - the primary code section was behind a source that blocked automated retrieval. Confirm directly with the City of Apple Valley. |
| Parking | Garage and off-street parking required for both units; the exact required space count wasn't confirmed in available sources. Garage conversions are only allowed if a replacement 2-car garage can be built without needing a variance. |
| Units per lot | 1 AUD per lot, but Apple Valley also caps AUDs at 3 total citywide in the R-1 district - new AUDs aren't permitted if 3 already exist within a half-mile radius. This citywide quota is unusually restrictive compared to other Twin Cities ordinances. |
| Owner-occupancy | Required. The owner must reside in either the primary residence or the AUD, and the AUD must be owned by the same owner as the primary residence - it cannot be separately owned or sold. |
| Permit type | Conditional Use Permit (CUP) - requires Planning Commission/Council review and a public hearing under a "no adverse impact on adjacent properties" standard, not an administrative approval. |
| Permit fee & timeline | Not confirmed in available sources - confirm current figures with the City of Apple Valley. |
Verify your lot is zoned R-1, at least 40,000 sq ft, and that fewer than 3 AUDs currently exist within a half-mile radius.
File a Conditional Use Permit application (fee amount not confirmed in available sources).
Your application is reviewed at a public hearing under a "no adverse impact on adjacent properties" standard.
The City Council makes the final decision on whether to approve the CUP.
Apply for standard building permits once the CUP is approved.
Permit fees and review timelines weren't confirmed in the sources reviewed for this page - confirm current figures with the City of Apple Valley Community Development Department.