Do I have to live on the property to have an ADU in Ferndale?

No. Ferndale's zoning code contains no owner-occupancy requirement for accessory dwellings. We verified this as an absence: Section 5.01, which governs accessory dwellings, lists lot, utility, footprint, height, and setback conditions, and owner occupancy is not among them. No other section of the code adds one.

This matters because many cities require the owner to live in either the main house or the ADU. Ferndale does not, so an investor-owned property can hold an accessory dwelling on the same terms as an owner-occupied one.

Two related points:

• The ADU cannot be split off and sold as its own lot (Section 5.01.A).
• If you plan to rent either unit short-term, short-term rentals carry their own standards and licensing under Section 5.23 and City Code Chapter 7-VII-3.

Ordinances change, so confirm current rules with the city at 248-336-4370 before relying on this.