Build an ADU in Wakefield.
New Hampshire's HB 577 lets you add one accessory dwelling unit on your single-family lot in Wakefield — by-right. A detached ADU can be up to 950 sf, and ADU setbacks match your lot's single-family setbacks.
7 districts
Each district's single-family setbacks — which your ADU follows. The primary residential district is highlighted.
Verified against the official Wakefield zoning ordinance · source · 2026-07-06
- Front
- 20 ft
- Side
- 20 ft
- Rear
- 10 ft
- Max coverage
- 45% building
- Min lot
- 43,560 sf (~1.00 ac)
Primary residential district (areas already moderately-to-heavily used as residential). STANDARD LOTS row of Table 2: Street (front) 20 ft, Side 20 ft, Rear 10 ft; wetland setback 30 ft; default 20 ft Side may be reduced 50% for grandfathered lots but never below 10 ft (fn 4).
- Front
- 20 ft
- Side
- 20 ft
- Rear
- 10 ft
- Max coverage
- 45% building
- Min lot
- 43,560 sf (~1.00 ac)
Property generally within 500 ft of lakes/ponds; water-quality-protective. Also subject to NH Shoreland Water Quality Protection Act. Min lot 1 acre (43,560 sf); requires 150 ft shoreline frontage; no flag lots.
- Front
- 50 ft
- Side
- 20 ft
- Rear
- 15 ft
- Max coverage
- 45% building
- Min lot
- 130,680 sf (~3.00 ac)
Rural-residential buffer; lowest density among residential zones. Min lot 3 acres (130,680 sf) for standard and flag lots. Town-wide coverage per Art 17 (building 45%, impervious 80%).
- Front
- 20 ft
- Side
- 20 ft
- Rear
- 10 ft
- Max coverage
- 45% building
- Min lot
- 21,780 sf (~0.50 ac)
Commerce/commercial-ventures district. Min lot 0.5 acre (21,780 sf); 100 ft street frontage. Additional 0.5 acre per extra dwelling/commercial unit. On municipal/community water or sewer, min lot drops to 20,000 sf (fn: reducible by Conditional Use Permit).
- Front
- 20 ft
- Side
- 10 ft
- Rear
- 10 ft
- Max coverage
- 45% building
- Min lot
- 21,780 sf (~0.50 ac)
Pedestrian-oriented village centers; mix of commercial and residential. Min lot 0.5 acre (21,780 sf); 50 ft street frontage, 150 ft shoreline frontage where applicable. Town-wide coverage per Art 17 (building 45%, impervious 80%).
- Front
- 50 ft
- Side
- 20 ft
- Rear
- 10 ft
- Max coverage
- 45% building
- Min lot
- 43,560 sf (~1.00 ac)
Light industrial uses kept away from residential; Route 16 uses must be screened by natural woodland buffer (fns 1/10). Min lot 1 acre (43,560 sf); 200 ft street frontage; flag lots 1 acre. Town-wide coverage per Art 17 (building 45%, impervious 80%).
- Front
- 50 ft
- Side
- 20 ft
- Rear
- 15 ft
- Max coverage
- 45% building
- Min lot
- 217,800 sf (~5.00 ac)
Lowest building density; primarily residential and agricultural with large open space. Min lot 5 acres (217,800 sf) for standard and flag lots; 200 ft street frontage; 5 acres additional per extra dwelling/commercial unit.
Form-based and downtown districts may use build-to lines instead of fixed setbacks (shown as “—”); verify your parcel's district before you build.
Wakefield ADU FAQ
Yes. Under NH RSA 674:71-73 (HB 577), one accessory dwelling unit is allowed by-right on single-family lots statewide, including Wakefield (Carroll County). A detached ADU can be up to 950 sf.
In Wakefield's RES-I zone, ADUs follow the single-family setbacks: 20 ft front, 20 ft side, and 10 ft rear. Wakefield has 7 zoning districts in total — see the full table below. Confirm your exact zone with the town.