New laws could bring more ADUs to Maryland and Virginia
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New state laws are making it easier to build ADUs across Maryland and Virginia.
Why it matters: The push for more local ADUs — accessory dwelling units, or small housing units built on the same land as a bigger home — comes as the region sees a housing crunch.
Driving the news: As of this month, Maryland jurisdictions are required to have adopted laws allowing the construction of ADUs on properties with single-family homes.
- And a law taking effect in Virginia next summer requires that local governments allow ADUs to be built by-right on single-family lots.
State of play: Some localities, including Montgomery County, Arlington and Alexandria, had already allowed ADUs under their own rules.
- The state laws could have a bigger impact in places like Prince George's and Prince William counties.
- Meanwhile, ADUs have been allowed in D.C. for about a decade.
What they're saying: Interest in building ADUs in Maryland has picked up since the new legislation's deadline was announced, says Pavel Kazenkov, founder of Capital ADU, which builds these structures in the DMV.
- He anticipates the same happening in Virginia next year.
- "Most people don't realize that they can even do this," he says. "So it's education."
Kazenkov says his clients' motivations are varied: Some want extra space without buying amid rising mortgage rates, while others build ADUs to generate rental income.
- Some use them to house aging parents.
The intrigue: More ADUs can add housing and give renters a cheaper way into some neighborhoods, says Kazenkov.
- He points to an ADU he recently built in his own Petworth backyard: a roughly 900-square-foot, two-bedroom home with outdoor space that he rents for $3,000 a month, including utilities and parking — a combination he says would cost more elsewhere in the neighborhood.
- He says building a typical standalone ADU in the area can run up to $250,000.
Reality check: Red tape still exists, despite the new laws: Homeowners can still face permitting and restrictions imposed at the local level.
The bottom line: "We need more education for owners to understand that they can do this," says Kazenkov.
- And if you're interested, he recommends hiring professionals who can help with the design and permitting process.