Not the same as the Village of Livonia. The Village of Livonia uses the same ADU rule as the town: one unit up to 40% of the house, owner on site. See the Village of Livonia page. Check which one is on your property tax bill.
Livonia allows one ADU, attached or in an outbuilding, up to 40% of the house size, with the owner on site; most districts need a conditional use permit.
The code allows an ADU only with a special use permit, which a board must approve, usually after a public hearing. Approval is not automatic.
Whether any of this applies to your lot depends on your zoning district and your property.
The rules we found
| What the code says | Allowed with a special use permit |
|---|---|
| Detached (backyard) unit | Yes, in an accessory building |
| Inside or attached | Yes, in the main building |
| Size limit | No more than 40% of the main dwelling unit's area |
| Bedrooms | None stated |
| Owner must live on site | Yes. The owner lives in either unit |
| How approval works | Conditional use permit from the Joint Zoning Board of Appeals in NR, ARC-3 and ARC-5; listed as a permitted use in the MUHD hamlet district |
| Other rules | One ADU per legal single-family home. |
Code section: §150-60 Accessory dwelling units; §150-31 NR district (and ARC-3, ARC-5, MUHD)
What the size rule means for your house
With a 1,600 sq ft house, the largest ADU this rule allows is about 640 sq ft.
sq ft
Rounded down to the nearest 10 sq ft. Towns measure differently (some count only finished living space, some leave out the garage), so ask the code office how it measures yours.
What this means for your plans
- Expect a public hearing where neighbors can speak, and a board decision that can take a few months. How special use permits work.
- The owner has to live on the property. If you plan to move away, spend winters somewhere else or sell, read the owner rule above closely. Renting and owner rules.
What we’re still confirming
- Whether new detached construction is treated the same as converting an existing accessory building
Before you spend money on drawings
- Confirm the Town of Livonia governs your lot: it should be the municipality on your property tax bill.
- Find your zoning district on the municipal zoning map; the rules above can differ by district.
- Call or write the code office with your address and what you’re picturing, and ask for the answer and the code section in writing.
- On septic or a well? Ask the Livingston County health department whether the system can serve an extra bedroom. On public sewer? Ask your sewer district.
Our guides explain the approval process, site and utility checks and what an ADU costs.
Sources
General information, not legal advice. The Town of Livonia decides what can be built on your property.