Apply for Queen City Accessory Dwelling Unit program
The City of Charlotte provides staff and financial support to eligible property owners of single-family homes who are planning to build an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) on their property.
Through the Queen City ADU Program, property owners may receive up to $80,000 per unit—or 50% of total project costs, whichever is less—in forgivable, interest-free financing to help construct or convert space into an ADU. The loan is forgiven at a rate of $10,000 per year of compliance. The final award amount is based on your construction estimates, scope of work, and whether you are using City-provided design plans.
How to apply
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Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must meet all the following:
- Property may be owner-occupied or non-owner occupied
- No income restrictions apply to property owners
- Property owners must contribute at least 50% of the loan amount in matching funds and provide proof of this prior to the first loan disbursement (in select cases where a property owner demonstrates limited financial capacity and meets additional criteria, the City may offer a reduced match requirement)
- Property taxes and mortgage payments must be current
- The property must be located within the City of Charlotte
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Required Documents
To ensure timely review, please have the following ready to upload. You may also choose to submit these after your initial application.
- Copy of Recorded Deed
- Copy of current homeowner’s insurance policy
- Copy of flood insurance (if in a floodplain)
- Current mortgage statement
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Additional Documents
These are not required, but please upload them if you have them. Submitting these documents may make your application more competitive:
- Estimates from licensed contractors for your ADU project
- ADU permit or permit application
- Copies of any applicable permits required for final approval
- Design plans
- Bank statement or loan approval showing matching funds
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What Happens After You Submit
- Application Review – City staff will review your submission for eligibility and completeness.
- Follow-Up – If needed, staff will request additional documents or clarification
- Decision Notification – You will be notified in writing of approval, conditional approval, or denial.
- Next Steps for Approved Applicants – You will receive instructions for signing the loan agreement, attending Fair Housing training, and completing pre-construction requirements.
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