Residential Building Code for ADUs

• Utility Services such as electric, water, and gas are required to be individual service meters unless the utility services are included as part of the rent as noted in the lease agreement per G.S. 143-151.42. The addition of master electrical and/or natural gas meters may be allowed.

• All ADUs are required to have a minimum of one emergency egress directly to the exterior.
• ADU in attic rooms requires separate emergency egress stairs apart from interior stairs.
• ADU rooms above the garage are required to have emergency egress directly to the exterior.
• ADU in basement rooms below grade (Non-daylight basement) are required to have emergency egress stairs and emergency escape such as window wells.
• All ADU units are required to have an emergency escape.

• ADUs in a separate building are required to meet all fire ratings as applied to multiple buildings on the same lot. All windows and penetrations in walls between the separate buildings are to meet placement and protection as required for separation from buildings and lot lines.
• Rating between the existing dwelling and the ADU whether inside the existing dwelling (basement or attic conversion) or addition attached to the existing dwelling. Treated as duplex 1-hour common separation.
• ADU in the attic of a garage requires the ceiling in garages over parking need 5/8” Type X, rated sheetrock. Staircase are required to be separated from garage area with ½” sheetrock and provide emergency egress directly to the exterior, with a rated door on the interior if present.
• ADU in attic rooms requires a one-hour rating ceiling below with all penetrations protected.
• ADU in basement rooms requires a one-hour rated ceiling with all penetrations protected. Doors to other living units will be rated 20 minutes.

• Each dwelling unit must have separate HVAC systems.
• HVAC Return Air number and location requirements.

Water Services Section P-2903

• Each Dwelling unit is required to provide separated shut-off valves that serve each tenant space and are accessible without the use of a ladder or tool.  Raleigh Water allows up to two units connected to a single water tap.

Sewer Separation Section P-2601

• Each building with plumbing fixtures is required to have a separate building drain. However, where located on the same lot, multiple buildings shall not be prohibited from connecting building drains to a common building sewer line that connects to the public sewer or an approved private sewage disposal system.

• Each dwelling unit shall be provided with a separate electrical meter and equipment.
• Branch circuits in each dwelling unit shall supply only loads within that dwelling unit or loads associated only with that dwelling unit. NEC 210.25(A).
• Branch circuit installed for lighting a common area of a two-family dwelling cannot be supplied from the equipment that supplies an individual dwelling unit. NEC 210.25(B).
• Smoke detectors to be hard-wired and interconnected with the existing dwelling when an area inside the existing dwelling or attached to it per R-314.
• Tenant shall have ready access to all overcurrent devices protecting the conductors supplying that occupancy. There is an exception to the service and/or feeder overcurrent device. NEC 240.24(B) also see 230.72(C), 225.35, and 225.40.