Frederick County bill would make accessory dwelling units larger and easier to build
The proposal would raise the standard ADU size limit from 1,000 to 1,300 square feet and relax parking rules while keeping owner-occupancy and short-term rental restrictions.
HERE'S WHAT WE KNOW
The standard ADU size limit would rise from 1,000 to 1,300 square feet. An ADU could not exceed 75% of the main home’s footprint or half its total square footage. Larger units could potentially be approved through special review. ADUs could be internal, attached or detached. The additional parking requirement would become a recommendation. Owner occupancy would still be required. Short-term rentals would remain prohibited. Bill 26-15 is scheduled for a public hearing Oct. 6.
Frederick County homeowners could gain more flexibility to add a second dwelling to their property under a bill now before the County Council.
The proposal would raise the standard maximum size for an accessory dwelling unit, or ADU, from 1,000 square feet to 1,300 square feet.
County records identify the proposal as Bill 26-15, sponsored by Council Member Mason Carter, Council Vice President Kavonté Duckett and Council Member Renee Knapp. It was introduced Sept. 15 and is scheduled for a public hearing on Oct. 6.
Under the proposal, an ADU still could not exceed 75% of the footprint of the principal residence or more than half of the main home’s total square footage.
The larger size limit could allow for a two-bedroom unit with a bathroom, kitchen and living space. Units exceeding 1,300 square feet could still be possible through a special review process.
ADUs could be located inside the primary home, attached to it or constructed as a separate building on the same property.
The bill would also loosen parking requirements.
Current rules require an additional parking space for an ADU. Under the proposal, that would become a recommendation rather than an absolute requirement, and permitted on-street parking could be considered in some situations.
Some restrictions would remain unchanged.
The property owner would still have to live either in the main house or in the accessory dwelling.
Short-term rental use such as Airbnb-style stays, extended-stay hotels or seasonal temporary housing would remain prohibited.
Owners would also continue to file an annual statement verifying that the property complies with the ADU rules.
Carter said the changes are intended to make accessory units more practical for homeowners and expand housing options for families, including those seeking space for an aging parent or an adult child.
Council Member Steve McKay said at an earlier workshop that the county’s existing ADU rules have not produced as many standalone units as officials had hoped.
The bill has not been adopted.
Its next major step is the scheduled Oct. 6 public hearing.
WHAT IT MEANS
The proposal would not eliminate Frederick County’s restrictions on accessory dwellings, but it would give homeowners more room and flexibility.
Supporters frame ADUs as one way to expand housing choices for families without creating traditional subdivisions or apartment complexes.
Whether the proposal becomes law will depend on the County Council after the public hearing and subsequent legislative process.
Original reporting referenced by Everything Frederick:
The Frederick News-Post — Reporting by Erik Anderson →Want more Frederick updates like this?
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