Bentonville Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Size and Regulations

In the City of Bentonville, the maximum square footage allowed for an individual detached Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) is 50% of the total square footage of the primary dwelling structure. This size restriction is waived for properties within the City of Bentonville that are larger than two acres in size. Additionally, all ADUs must comply with the cumulative maximum lot coverage requirements established for their specific zoning district.

ADU Size and Lot Coverage Standards

The City of Bentonville regulates the size of Accessory Dwelling Units primarily through a percentage of the principal building's area. According to the Bentonville Zoning Code, detached ADUs are classified as accessory structures and must adhere to the following size and coverage limits [Section 601.01, Section 601.02]:

Standard Type	Bentonville Requirement
Maximum Square Footage	50% of the total square footage of the primary structure
Exemption to Size Limit	Lots greater than two (2) acres in size
Maximum Number of Units	Only one (1) ADU is allowed per lot
Cumulative Lot Coverage	Total area of all buildings cannot exceed the maximum lot coverage of the specific zoning district

Setback and Location Requirements

Accessory Dwelling Units in Bentonville must be positioned appropriately on the lot relative to the primary residence. Detached units larger than 200 square feet must maintain a minimum distance of 12 feet from the primary structure [Section 601.01].

Accessory Structure Setbacks

The following setbacks apply to ADUs based on their building footprint in the City of Bentonville [Section 601.01]:

Feature	Footprint ≤ 720 Sq. Ft.	Footprint > 720 Sq. Ft.
Front Setback	As required by district; cannot extend past the front building line of the primary structure	As required by district; cannot extend past the front building line of the primary structure
Side Setback	7 feet	As required by the specific zoning district
Rear Setback	7 feet	As required by the specific zoning district

Eligibility and Occupancy Standards

The City of Bentonville enforces specific occupancy rules depending on the zoning district in which the ADU is located.

Owner-Occupancy Requirements

In Bentonville's A1, RE, R1, and DN-1 districts, either the primary dwelling or the accessory dwelling unit must be owner-occupied. The "owner-occupied" status requires the property owner to make the site their legal residence as evidenced by voter or vehicle registration, and they may not receive rent for the unit they occupy [Section 601.02].

Caretaker Units

In the City of Bentonville's C2, I1, and I2 districts, ADUs are permitted only for "Caretaker" use. These units must be used solely for a watchman, caretaker, or custodian of the facility on-site. These units cannot be separately rented or leased to members of the general public [Section 601.02].

Design and Utility Standards

The Bentonville Zoning Code requires ADUs to be aesthetically compatible with the primary residence and the surrounding neighborhood.

Architectural Design: The design of the ADU must be consistent with the primary structure, utilizing matching materials, colors, window styles, and comparable roof appearances [Section 601.02].
Entrances: Only one entrance to the ADU may be visible from the front street. Exterior stairways are prohibited on the front of the primary structure [Section 601.02].
Utilities: The ADU must be served by the existing primary structure’s sewer and water connections and water meter. The City of Bentonville does not allow the water meter size to be increased solely for the purpose of serving an ADU [Section 601.02].
Subdivision: An ADU, or the land it sits on, cannot be subdivided or segregated in ownership from the primary structure [Section 601.02].

Sections Cited

Section 201.02 Definitions Of Terms And Uses
Section 401.07-B Downtown Neighborhood (DN) Districts Regulations
Section 601.01 Accessory Structures
Section 601.02 Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)