Accent Dwelling Items Allowed In Single-Household Zoning Districts Beginning Sunday
STATE HOUSE, BOSTON, JAN. 30, 2025…..Beginning Sunday, accent dwelling models will likely be allowed by proper in single-family zoning districts throughout most of Massachusetts, below a regulation Gov. Maura Healey signed in August.
The regulation stipulated that the coverage would go into impact 180 days after it was signed, which was on Aug. 6, to permit the small, impartial residing areas to be constructed on the identical property as a major residence by proper no matter native single-family zoning ordinances. The Healey administration estimates the regulation might result in between 8,000 and 10,000 ADUs over 5 years.
The regulation applies to 350 municipalities in Massachusetts. Boston is exempt, and is pursuing its personal city-specific ADU policy.
ADUs will need to have a separate entrance from the principle home to qualify below the regulation, and should be no bigger than half the gross flooring space of the principal residence, or 900 sq. ft, whichever is smaller. They are often inner — like changing a basement into an condominium — connected to a home by including a brand new addition, or fully indifferent however on the identical property.
The Govt Workplace of Housing and Livable Communities spent the final six months drafting extra specific regulations to accompany the regulation, to permit cities and cities to “impose reasonable restrictions and requirements.”
These newly-drafted laws permit municipalities extra management over web site plan overview; short-term leases; and laws regarding septic methods, how far again the buildings might be from the highway, in addition to the majority and top of buildings.
Management over short-term rental insurance policies was particularly essential for cities on Cape Cod, Martha’s Winery and Nantucket, an official from EOHLC mentioned throughout a background briefing Thursday. The tourism financial system within the area has already turned numerous the Cape and islands’ housing into seasonal leases, and pushed full-time residents out.
By permitting cities to limit ADUs from getting used primarily as short-term trip leases, the EOHLC official mentioned the Cape and islands can concentrate on creating year-round housing alternatives for residents who truly reside of their cities.
The laws additionally explicitly define some restrictions that municipalities can not put in place.
For instance, cities and cities can not require that the proprietor of the first property be familially associated to the occupant of the ADU.
ADUs have typically colloquially been referred to as “granny flats,” the place getting old dad and mom of middle-aged adults might reside of their senior years. Alternatively, ADUs have additionally been used for grownup kids who could wish to transfer out of their dad and mom home however can not afford to reside on their very own or want to remain near dwelling.
The Healey administration has mentioned ADUs might help tackle the state’s housing disaster. If getting old adults transfer out of their single-family dwelling, it frees up that home for one more household to maneuver into.
Nonetheless, housing advocates, lawmakers and administration officers have additionally talked about ADUs being an alternate housing possibility exterior of simply familial ties.
They’ve mentioned they’ll create another choice for renters, and a chance for owners to earn rental revenue which might offset upkeep and restore prices, with out essentially needing a preexisting relationship with the ADU’s occupant.
The administration’s laws additionally search to encourage extra housing close to public transit.
They are saying municipalities can not require that ADUs have a parking spot if they’re positioned inside half a mile from a commuter rail station, subway station, bus station or all-season ferry terminal. They’ll’t require multiple parking spot for ADUs exterior of that half-mile radius.
