One of the most practical site planning questions for an ADU project is parking: does the ADU need a dedicated space, or can you build without providing one? The answer varies significantly across Dane County — and getting it wrong either wastes money on unnecessary paving or creates a zoning violation that kills the permit.
Madison: Parking Minimums Largely Eliminated
The City of Madison eliminated off-street parking minimums for ADUs in most residential zoning districts as part of its ADU-friendly zoning reforms. In the majority of TR and SR districts within the city, you are not required to provide a parking space for an ADU.
There are exceptions. Some older Planned Development districts may have specific requirements baked into their original approval. While minimums are gone for the ADU itself, the primary residence may still have baseline parking requirements depending on zoning designation. The practical effect: most Madison ADU projects don’t need to dedicate lot space to parking.
Fitchburg, Middleton, and Surrounding Cities
The City of Fitchburg has not eliminated ADU parking minimums — at least one off-street space is generally required. The City of Middleton requires one off-street parking space per ADU in most residential zones, dimensioned to code (typically 9x18 feet minimum), shown on the site plan.
The City of Verona requires a parking space for ADUs. Mount Horeb, which recently began allowing ADUs, has parking requirements as part of its approval conditions. For smaller municipalities and villages throughout Dane County, parking requirements tend to be conservative — most require at least one space.
Why This Matters for Your Budget
A gravel or concrete parking pad adds cost that doesn’t show up in the ADU’s square footage. More significantly, it consumes lot area that might otherwise be yard. In municipalities where parking is required, it’s not optional — you can’t get a permit without showing it on the site plan. A parking requirement that affects a tight lot may dictate ADU placement and size.
We know the parking requirements for every municipality we work in across Dane County. If you’re not sure what applies to your specific property, that’s what the feasibility check is for.