Brentwood planners respond to two new state housing laws; draft ordinance changes and public guidance planned

Brentwood Planning Board members heard a presentation July 17 from resilience planning consultants on recent state legislation that affects local housing rules and on public feedback from a town housing forum.

Consultant Steve Whitman of Resilience Planning and Design summarized two new state laws that he said will require changes to Brentwood’s zoning. “House Bill 577 … allows attached and detached accessory dwelling units by right,” Whitman told the board, and he said the law sets a default maximum ADU size of 950 square feet and a minimum of 750 square feet unless the municipality sets otherwise. Whitman said the ADU law takes effect July 1, 2025. He also summarized House Bill 631, which he said “requires municipalities to permit multifamily residential development on commercially zoned land,” and noted that bill becomes effective in 2026.

Why it matters: town zoning and any ballot measures will need to reflect the new state requirements so the town remains compliant and keeps local control over design and location where possible. Consultants told the board that updating Brentwood’s accessory-dwelling-unit…