Accessory Dwelling Units ADU

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Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU)
Smart Growth / Smart Energy Toolkit
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What is an ADU?

• An Accessory Dwelling Unit is a secondary housing
  unit on the same property as a main residence.
• ADUs are also called accessory apartments,
• in-law apartments, family apartments, or
  secondary units.
• ADUs are not duplexes
• Size of ADU is subsidiary to the main residence
• Owner of ADU usually lives on the property
• ADUs are self-contained

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Why consider an ADU bylaw?

• Shrinking household size
• Rising real estate costs
• Aging population
• Neighborhood stability
• Character of neighborhoods
• Environmental benefits

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What does it do for you?

• Municipality
• Increases tax revenue
• Minimizes subsidies required for affordable
  units
• Maximizes use of existing infrastructure and
  services
• Keeps growing and aging families together
• Preserves existing homes and historic structures
• Promotes safe and stable neighborhoods

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Who benefits from ADUs?

• Homeowners rental income
• Middle-income tenants more units
• Local businesses employee housing
• Real estate firms rental stock
• Residential contractors remodeling
• Lending institutions home improvement loans

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Affordable ADUs

• Local Initiative Program can be an instrument for
  affordability
• ADU qualification conditions for MA Subsidized
  Housing Inventory (SHI)
• Unit approved by local bylaw and DHCD
• Unit occupied by income-eligible tenant
• (80 of area median income)
• Unit rented at affordable price over term of
  control
• For SHI details, contact Department of Housing
  and Community Development at www.mass.gov/dhcd

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Who typically chooses to build ADUs?

• Older singles/couples
• Middle-aged "empty nesters"
• Younger singles/couples
• Single working parents
• People who travel often

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How and where are ADUs built?

• Apartments in single-family homes
• Additions to homes
• Conversion of garages or barns
• Free-standing cottages
• Designed into new construction

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ADUs and Neighborhood Type

• Traditional Neighborhood Blocks
• Features
• Shallow lots, with or without alley
• Carriage houses and garages at the back of the
  lot
• Original carriage houses small single bay
  buildings
• ADUs sited along alley frontage or rear property
  line

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ADUs and Neighborhood Type

• Transitional Neighborhood Blocks
• Features
• Pre-war grid blocks with pre- and post war
  housing
• Deep lots
• Garages located in rear yards
• ADUs placed within garage zone in rear yards

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ADUs and Neighborhood Type

• Suburban Neighborhood Blocks
• Features
• Cul-de-sac blocks
• Small yards
• Parking in front of lot with 20 driveway parking
• ADUs sited in rear lot areas on bigger lots
  and/or garage conversions

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ADU Option 1 Apartments within Single-Family
Homes
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ADU Option 2 Additions to Single-Family Homes
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ADU Option 3 Conversion of Garages, Barns,
Outbuildings
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ADU Option 4 Construction of New Outbuildings
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ADU Option 5 Designed into New Construction
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Regulation of ADUs

• Zoning ordinance/bylaw
• Specifies ADU conversion standards
• As-of-Right
• For interior alterations
• Special Permit
• For exterior changes and out buildings
• Licensing
• Periodic appraisal of ADU via renewal or for
  change in ownership

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Summary of ADU Benefits

• Creates new housing using existing infrastructure
  and services
• Reduces energy consumption
• Generates community dollars through home equity
• Reduces costs for the elderly
• Preserves housing stock and neighborhood stability

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Selected MA communities with ADU bylaws

• Case studies
• Pelham, rural community
• Lexington, suburban community
• Northampton, urban community

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Additional Information

• MA Housing Partnership (MHP)http//www.mhp.net
• MA Department of Housing and Community
  Development (DHCD)http//www.mass.gov/dhcd/
• Background on Subsidized Housing
  Inventoryhttp//www.mass.gov/dhcd
• Older Americans Act websitewww.aoa.dhhs.gov

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Additional Information

• Taking the Initiative A Guidebook on Creating
  Local Affordable Housing Strategies, CHAPA and
  MHP, Chapter 3, pp. 49-51 (March
  2003)http//www.mhp.net/uploads/resources/taking
  _the_initiative_guidebook__ch._111.pdf
• Granny Flats Add Flexibility and Affordability,
  New Urban News Ithaca, NY, New Urban
  Publications, (2001)http//www.newurbannews.com/a
  ccessory.html
• Accessory Apartments, Leo L. Cram, Missouri
  Gerontology Institute, University of Missouri
  (1993)http//muextension.missouri.edu/explore/ag
  ing/gg0014.htm