Last researched: September 19, 2026. Goldsboro has one of the clearest municipal ADU ordinances in Caroline County. The Town’s 2022 Land Development Zoning Ordinance contains a dedicated § 6.10 Accessory Dwelling Units section and allows ADUs through internal conversions, additions, garage conversions and detached construction, subject to local performance standards.
Homeowner takeaway: Goldsboro already allows several ADU types, but its posted size rule — 50% of the principal dwelling’s living area or 800 square feet, whichever is less — is more restrictive than Maryland’s current statewide 75% definition. Before buying plans, ask the Town whether § 6.10 has been amended for HB 1466 compliance and which current parking and detached-unit standards apply to your parcel.
Goldsboro ADU planning snapshot
| Question | What we verified |
|---|---|
| Current local ADU section | § 6.10 of the Town’s 2022 Land Development Zoning Ordinance. |
| One ADU per lot | Yes. The section says no more than one accessory dwelling unit per lot of record. |
| Applicable zoning districts | The specific applicability subsection lists NC, R-1, PUD and TC when the lot contains a detached single-family dwelling. |
| ADU types | Existing living-space conversion, attic, basement, garage conversion, addition, and detached construction are all expressly contemplated. |
| Detached-unit location | The ordinance includes a detached-unit option within 100 ft of the principal dwelling. |
| Local maximum size | 50% of the principal dwelling’s living area or 800 sq ft, whichever is less. |
| Detached height | 25 ft maximum under the posted § 6.10 detached-unit standards. |
| Detached placement | The posted section says at least 60 ft from the front lot line and 6 ft behind the principal dwelling. |
| Parking | The ordinance contains ADU-specific parking language, but one sentence is awkwardly drafted and should be confirmed with the Town before relying on it. |
| 2026 state-law issue | Maryland Planning says covered jurisdictions may not impose an ADU maximum below 75% of the primary detached dwelling. |
Goldsboro adopted a dedicated ADU ordinance in 2022
Goldsboro’s zoning ordinance was enacted August 9, 2022 and became effective September 9, 2022. The ordinance repealed conflicting prior zoning rules and added a dedicated § 6.10 for accessory dwelling units.
The ordinance defines an ADU as an independent residential living unit on the same parcel as the single-family dwelling it accompanies, with its own living, sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation facilities.
The specific applicability section lists NC, R-1, PUD and TC
The opening sentence of § 6.10 says an ADU may be permitted in all zones except Industrial, subject to Planning Commission performance standards. But the more specific applicability subsection then says an ADU may be located with a detached single-family dwelling in the NC, R-1, PUD and TC districts.
That drafting difference is worth confirming with the Town. For a homeowner, the safe approach is to ask the Planning Commission or zoning staff which district provision they apply to the parcel today.
The same subsection says an ADU may not be placed on the same lot as a two-family dwelling, townhouse or multifamily dwelling.
Goldsboro allows several ways to create an ADU
The 2022 ordinance expressly allows an ADU to be created by:
- converting existing living area, an attic, basement or garage;
- adding floor area to an existing detached single-family dwelling or garage;
- constructing a new principal dwelling with an internal or detached ADU when included in an approved PUD development master plan; or
- constructing a detached unit located within 100 feet of the principal dwelling.
That makes Goldsboro notably more flexible than older “granny flat” rules that only allowed a relative to occupy a small internal unit.
The 50% / 800-sq-ft cap is the main 2026 conflict
Goldsboro’s posted § 6.10 says an ADU may be no more than 50% of the living area of the principal dwelling or 800 square feet, whichever is less.
Maryland’s current HB 1466 framework uses a broader standard. The Maryland Department of Planning says an ADU may be up to 75% of the size of the primary single-family detached dwelling, and a covered jurisdiction may not impose a lower local maximum.
For a 1,600-square-foot primary dwelling:
- Goldsboro’s 50% formula equals 800 square feet;
- the Town’s separate 800-square-foot cap also stops the unit at 800 square feet; and
- Maryland’s 75% ceiling equals 1,200 square feet.
For a 2,000-square-foot house, the difference becomes 800 square feet under the posted Town rule versus 1,500 square feet under the state definition.
That does not mean every larger unit is automatically approvable. It means the old 800-square-foot maximum should not be treated as the final 2026 legal ceiling without checking whether Goldsboro has amended § 6.10.
Use our Maryland ADU size guide before choosing a floor plan, then confirm how Goldsboro currently measures the principal dwelling.
Detached ADUs have their own placement and design rules
Goldsboro’s posted detached-ADU standards say the unit must be at least:
- 60 feet from the front lot line; and
- 6 feet behind the principal dwelling.
The section also caps a detached ADU at 25 feet in height, says its footprint cannot exceed the footprint of the principal dwelling, and limits the combined footprint of all detached accessory structures to 25% of the total site area.
Exterior materials, roof pitch, trim, windows and eaves must also visually match the principal dwelling under the posted design standards.
Maryland’s 2026 law separately says local side and rear ADU setbacks may not be more restrictive than the jurisdiction’s existing accessory-structure setbacks. Ask Goldsboro how that statewide rule affects any side/rear-yard requirements that apply in addition to the 60-foot front and 6-foot-behind-the-house standards.
Existing detached garages can be converted, but not in every location
Goldsboro expressly allows garage conversions as one method of creating an ADU. But the detached-unit section says an existing detached garage cannot be converted if it sits within a required front, rear or side building setback.
Before designing a garage conversion, have the Town confirm:
- the existing garage’s legal setbacks;
- whether it is conforming or legally nonconforming;
- the available utility route;
- fire separation and building-code requirements; and
- whether the current HB 1466 amendment changes any zoning standard.
Goldsboro’s ADU parking language should be confirmed before design
The 2022 ordinance includes a specific ADU parking subsection and explains that its goal is to balance adequate parking with the desire to avoid unnecessary impervious surface.
The text then contains an unusually worded sentence about when no additional parking space is required, including references to roadway width and an ADU created at the same time as the principal dwelling. Because the wording is not perfectly clear on its face, homeowners should not build a parking plan around a casual reading of that sentence.
Maryland’s current law also changes the parking analysis: if Goldsboro imposes additional off-street parking specifically for ADUs, the Town must have completed the required parking study and must provide a waiver process.
Ask the Town which parking standard applies now and whether a 2026 parking study or waiver procedure has been adopted.
The front-facing entrance is also regulated
Goldsboro’s § 6.10 says only one ground-level entrance may be located on the façade of the principal dwelling facing the street unless the house already had additional entrances before the ADU was created. The section makes an exception for entrances that do not access from the ground, such as balcony or deck entrances.
For an internal or attached ADU, this can affect the floor plan and where a new private entrance is located.
Goldsboro requires Town zoning and building approvals
The zoning ordinance says no building, structure or use may be erected, moved, added to, structurally altered or changed without the required Town zoning approval. It also requires a building permit before construction begins.
Goldsboro’s current Planning & Zoning page publishes permit applications, the Land Development Ordinance and the zoning map. Depending on the project, additional Caroline County or other agency approvals may also be required.
For an ADU, confirm whether you need:
- a zoning certificate;
- Planning Commission performance-standard review;
- a site plan;
- a building permit;
- electrical and plumbing permits;
- water/sewer or septic approval;
- Board of Appeals action; and
- final occupancy approval.
We did not find a later Goldsboro ADU ordinance on the Town ordinance page
Goldsboro’s current Ordinances & Resolutions page lists the 2022 Land Development Zoning Ordinance and a 2025 Hazard Mitigation Resolution. During this September 19, 2026 research pass, we did not find a separately posted 2026 ADU amendment on that page.
That does not prove no amendment has been introduced, adopted but not uploaded, or incorporated elsewhere. With the October 1, 2026 state deadline approaching, ask Town Hall directly whether § 6.10 has been amended for HB 1466 compliance.
What to ask Goldsboro before paying for plans
- Has § 6.10 been amended since the 2022 zoning ordinance?
- Which zoning districts currently permit ADUs?
- Does the Town still use the 50% / 800-square-foot maximum?
- How does Goldsboro calculate Maryland’s 75% size limit?
- Can an existing garage be converted on this parcel?
- What front, side and rear placement rules apply to a detached ADU?
- Does the 25-foot detached height limit remain in effect?
- What lot-coverage limit applies to detached accessory structures?
- What parking rule applies now?
- Has Goldsboro completed an ADU parking study?
- What parking-waiver process is available?
- What design-matching requirements remain in force?
- What site-plan, zoning and building approvals are required?
- What Caroline County trade, utility or health permits are also required?
Goldsboro homeowner checklist
- Confirm the parcel is inside Goldsboro municipal limits.
- Check whether the property is in NC, R-1, PUD or TC and ask the Town how it reads the broader introductory language in § 6.10.
- Ask for any ADU amendment adopted after the 2022 zoning ordinance.
- Do not design solely around the old 800-square-foot maximum.
- Choose the ADU type: internal, attic/basement, garage conversion, addition or detached.
- Verify the 100-foot detached-unit location rule.
- Confirm front, side and rear placement requirements.
- Verify height and lot coverage.
- Confirm the current parking rule and waiver process.
- Prepare the site plan or survey required by the Town.
- Confirm water/sewer, septic and trade permits.
- Do not make a non-refundable construction commitment until the Town confirms the current 2026 rules.
Goldsboro MD ADU FAQs
Does Goldsboro allow detached ADUs?
Yes under the posted 2022 zoning ordinance. § 6.10 expressly allows construction of a detached unit located within 100 feet of the principal dwelling, subject to the Town’s detached-ADU standards and any later amendment.
Can I convert a garage into an ADU in Goldsboro?
Yes, garage conversion is expressly listed as an ADU creation method. An existing detached garage located within a required building setback cannot be converted under the posted rule.
What is Goldsboro’s ADU size limit?
The 2022 ordinance says 50% of the principal dwelling’s living area or 800 square feet, whichever is less. Maryland Planning now says covered jurisdictions may not impose an ADU maximum below 75% of the primary detached dwelling, so ask whether Goldsboro has amended that cap.
How tall can a detached Goldsboro ADU be?
The posted § 6.10 detached-unit rule uses a maximum height of 25 feet. Confirm that figure against any later HB 1466 amendment before final design.
Which Goldsboro zoning districts allow ADUs?
The specific applicability subsection lists NC, R-1, PUD and TC for a lot containing a detached single-family dwelling. The introductory sentence is broader, so ask the Town which provision it currently applies.
Who should I contact about a Goldsboro ADU?
Start with the Town of Goldsboro at 505 Old Town Road, Goldsboro, Maryland 21636. The Town lists 410-482-8805 and clerk@goldsboromd.com and publishes its Planning & Zoning materials on the Town website.
Primary sources checked
- Town of Goldsboro — 2022 Land Development Zoning Ordinance
- Town of Goldsboro — Planning & Zoning
- Town of Goldsboro — Permit Applications & Forms
- Town of Goldsboro — Ordinances & Resolutions
- Maryland Department of Planning — HB 1466 ADU FAQ
- Maryland Land Use § 4-504
Maryland ADU Guide is an independent research publication, not the Town of Goldsboro, Caroline County, a law firm, architect or contractor. This page reports the Town’s 2022 § 6.10 ADU standards and compares them with Maryland’s current HB 1466 guidance. Confirm any later amendment, current parking interpretation and parcel-specific requirements with the Town before spending money on design or construction.
What to do next
Confirm whether Goldsboro has amended § 6.10 before choosing an ADU size or detached-unit layout.
- Confirm who reviews the property.
- Ask Goldsboro for the current ADU section and zoning district.
- Gather your survey, principal-dwelling size and utility information.
- Continue to the Maryland ADU planning tools.
Planning guidance is not permit approval.