Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Washington County holds public hearing on accessory dwelling unit zoning changes required by state law
Summary
County planners outlined proposed zoning text amendments to allow accessory dwelling units (ADUs) across multiple districts, citing a state law deadline; commissioners took public comment and deferred action for further coordination with health, building and utility agencies.
Washington County planners on Tuesday presented proposed zoning changes to allow accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, in a wide range of rural and urban zoning districts, citing a new Maryland law that requires counties to permit ADUs by Oct. 1, 2026.
Travis Allen, senior planner in the county Department of Planning and Zoning, told the Board of County Commissioners the draft text amendment, RZ-25-005, would create a new section in the zoning ordinance to permit one ADU per lot by right and to set size, parking and use limits. "We would permit, by right, the creation of one ADU per lot in conjunction with the principal use on a given property," Allen said during the introduction of the proposal.
County staff framed the changes as part of a broader…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
