For starters, they cannot be more than 900 square feet. Are they still the answer to the region’s housing crunch?
What you build on your property is up to you now. Mostly.
In June, Governor Maura Healey signed what has been called the “most ambitious legislation to address housing costs in State history”: the Affordable Homes Act. Besides the spending authorizations to build more, the act also includes policy initiatives, one of which involves accessory dwelling units.
What are ADUs?
As the name suggests, ADUs are smaller, independent units located on the same lot as a single-family home, according to the American Planning Association website. These units are often used as a home for elderly or aging relatives, which is why they have the nickname “granny flats.”
The Affordable Homes Act replaced previous zoning regulations to allow homeowners to build ADUs on their property without a special permit, unless they want to build multiple units, according to information on the state website.