Eagan allows attached and internal ADUs by right in its Estate and R-1 districts, but does not permit detached backyard ADUs - and requires owner-occupancy plus annual registration with the City Clerk.
Last verified: August 20265/10 · Limited (attached only)
960 sq ft*
Max ADU size
Match house
Max height
Required
Owner-occupancy
By-right
Permit type
This page summarizes Eagan City Code §§11.60 and 11.70 Subd. 32 (Accessory Dwelling Units) for general reference - it is not legal advice. Regulations change; always confirm current requirements with the City of Eagan before designing or applying for permits. See sources below.
Zoning & size requirements
What you're allowed to build
Detached ADUs are not allowed in Eagan. City code is explicit: "An ADU shall be located within or attached to the primary residence and shall not be permitted in structures detached from the primary residence, including, but not limited to, accessory buildings, detached garages, or workshops." Only attached or internal ADUs are eligible.
ADU type
Max size
Max height
Notes
Attached / internal (basement, addition)
960 sq ft or 33% of the primary residence's footprint (excluding non-habitable attached areas), whichever is less (min 300 sq ft)
May not extend beyond the height of the primary residence
Also subject to an overall 20% lot building-coverage limit
Allowed zoning districts
Estate and R-1 (single-family) districts only. Confirm your parcel's zoning district with the City of Eagan.
Additional standards
Setbacks, parking & other rules
Setbacks
No separate ADU-specific setback schedule exists - since ADUs must be attached to or internal within the primary structure, they simply follow the primary structure's existing district setbacks.
Parking
2 additional off-street spaces required for the ADU, on top of the 2 spaces already required for the primary home (4 total). An additional garage may be built if only one garage is currently visible from the street.
Units per lot
1 ADU maximum, capped at 2 occupants and 2 bedrooms - an unusually restrictive occupancy limit compared to most Twin Cities ordinances.
Owner-occupancy
Required. The owner must reside in either the primary residence or the ADU as a permanent/legal residence, and may be absent up to 180 consecutive days per year.
Entry & utilities
If the ADU has its own exterior entry door, that door can't be on the same building facade as the primary residence's front entrance. The primary residence and ADU must be connected to municipal sewer and water through a single shared service line from the street, not separate lines.
Permit type
No CUP needed - ADUs are a permitted accessory use. Annual registration with the City Clerk is required before occupancy (12-month term, renewed annually), in addition to standard building/plumbing/mechanical/electrical permits for construction.
Ordinance history
How Eagan's ADU rules got here
By 2022Attached-only framework already in place. Eagan City Code Chapter 11 (§§11.60, 11.70 Subd. 32) established the attached/internal-only ADU standards the city still uses today - owner-occupancy, a 960 sq ft or 33%-of-footprint size cap, and annual registration with the City Clerk. Star Tribune reporting on Twin Cities ADUs listed Eagan among the suburbs already open to them as of December 2022, though we could not independently confirm the ordinance's original adoption date from public sources.
Unlike some Twin Cities suburbs, Eagan's core ADU standards haven't been the subject of a public rewrite or high-profile dispute in the sources reviewed for this page - the same attached-only, owner-occupied framework has applied throughout the period covered by available reporting. If you need the ordinance's exact original adoption date for a specific purpose, Eagan Community Development (651-675-5685) can pull the ordinance number and adoption date from city records.
Permit process
How Eagan ADU permitting works
1
Confirm eligibility
Verify your lot is zoned Estate or R-1, that your ADU will be attached to or internal within the primary residence, and that your site can accommodate 4 total parking spaces and the 2-person/2-bedroom occupancy cap.
2
Prepare your plan set
Put together construction drawings (floor plans and elevations) showing the ADU's size relative to the primary residence, plus a site plan showing the required parking layout.
3
Building, plumbing & mechanical permits
Apply for standard building, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical permits for the construction work itself. Fees are valuation-based per the city's fee schedule.
4
Plan review
Reviewed by Community Development / Building Inspections for compliance with §11.70 Subd. 32. No single published ADU-specific review timeline was found - confirm current turnaround when you submit.
5
Inspections
Once permitted, expect the standard framing, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, and final inspections. Schedule inspections through Building Inspections at 651-675-5675.
6
Annual registration
Register the ADU with the City Clerk before occupancy begins. Registration runs for a 12-month term and must be renewed every year.
Eagan's 2025 fee schedule shows valuation-based building permit fees plus a plan review fee equal to 65% of the permit fee, and $149-per-unit mechanical and plumbing permits for new construction; no separate ADU registration fee was listed. Fee schedules are typically updated annually - confirm current figures with Building Inspections at 651-675-5675, or Community Development / Planning at 651-675-5685.
Budgeting
What it costs to build an ADU in Eagan
Attached addition or above-garage buildout
Roughly $135,000-$260,000, based on local contractor estimates and regional reporting - detached ADUs aren't an option in Eagan, so this tends to be the larger of the two attached paths
Basement conversion
Roughly $110,000-$220,000, depending on existing ceiling height and utility access
Building permit & plan review
Valuation-based per Eagan's fee schedule (2025 rates); plan review adds another 65% of the building permit fee
Mechanical & plumbing permits
$149 per dwelling unit each for new construction, per the 2025 fee schedule
SAC / utility connection charges
If the ADU is determined to add a new SAC unit: $2,485 Metropolitan Council SAC plus Eagan's own $143.80 city SAC portion, and potentially water supply and treatment plant charges - confirm applicability with the city before you budget
These are general ranges from local contractor estimates, regional reporting, and Eagan's 2025 fee schedule, not project quotes - actual cost depends on lot conditions, finishes, and whether your project is determined to add a new sewer or water connection. Fee schedules are typically updated annually; confirm current figures with the city before you budget.
Before you apply
Tips for a smooth approval
Design for attached, not detached, from day one. Eagan's code is explicit that an ADU can't be a converted garage, shed, or standalone building - plan an addition, basement, or above-garage layout from the start.
Map your parking before you finalize the floor plan. You need 4 total off-street spaces (2 for the home, 2 for the ADU) - confirm your site can accommodate that before committing to a design.
Watch the 2-person/2-bedroom occupancy cap. It's tighter than most Twin Cities ADU ordinances, so plan the layout - and who'll live there - accordingly.
Ask whether your project counts as a new SAC unit before you budget. It determines whether you owe the $2,485 Met Council charge, plus Eagan's own city SAC portion, on top of construction.
Renew your registration every year. Eagan's ADU registration is a 12-month term, not a one-time filing - put a reminder on the calendar so you don't lapse into noncompliance.
FAQ
Common questions
Can I build a detached backyard ADU in Eagan?
No. Eagan City Code only permits ADUs that are attached to or internal within the primary residence - detached structures such as converted garages or standalone backyard cottages are not allowed.
Do I need to live on the property?
Yes. The owner must reside in either the primary residence or the ADU as a permanent/legal residence, and may be absent up to 180 consecutive days per year.
How many people can live in the ADU?
Occupancy is capped at 2 occupants and 2 bedrooms - a notably tighter limit than most other Twin Cities ADU ordinances.
How much parking do I need?
2 additional off-street spaces for the ADU, for 4 total on the property, on top of the 2 spaces already required for the primary home.
Do I need to register my ADU every year?
Yes. Annual registration with the City Clerk is required before occupancy, and it must be renewed every 12 months.
How much does an ADU cost to build in Eagan?
Eagan doesn't publish ADU-specific cost data. Based on local contractor estimates and regional reporting, an attached addition or above-garage buildout typically runs $135,000-$260,000, and a basement conversion $110,000-$220,000, depending on finishes and existing utility access. On top of construction, budget for the city's valuation-based building, mechanical, and plumbing permit fees, plus the $2,485 Metropolitan Council SAC fee if your project is determined to add a new sewer unit.
What documents do I need for the building, plumbing, and mechanical permits?
Eagan's fee schedule bases building permit fees on square-footage or contract valuation, so you'll need construction drawings (floor plans and elevations) showing the ADU's size relative to the primary residence, plus separate applications for mechanical and plumbing work. Confirm the exact submittal checklist with Building Inspections before you apply.
What does it cost to register and permit an ADU in Eagan?
Eagan's 2025 fee schedule doesn't list a separate ADU registration fee - filing with the City Clerk appears to carry no dedicated charge, though this should be confirmed. Construction permits are charged separately: building permit fees are valuation-based, scaling up with project value, plus a plan review fee equal to 65% of the building permit fee, and mechanical/plumbing permits of $149 per dwelling unit each for new construction. If your project adds a new SAC unit, add the $2,485 Metropolitan Council charge plus Eagan's own $143.80 city SAC portion.
Can I rent my ADU out on Airbnb or a short-term rental platform?
Eagan's ADU ordinance doesn't address short-term rentals directly in the sources reviewed for this page. Since the ADU counts toward the property's 2-person/2-bedroom occupancy cap and the owner-occupancy requirement, confirm current short-term rental rules with the city before listing the unit.
