Fairfax committee reviews changes to accessory living unit rules to encourage supply and reduce barriers

County staff presented a broad set of potential changes to Fairfax County’s accessory living unit (ALU) rules at a Land Use Policy Committee meeting, arguing the updates could increase housing options while committee members raised enforcement and neighborhood-character concerns.

Casey Judge of the Zoning Administration Division framed ALUs as “a great tool in the housing affordability toolkit, because they can help serve to increase the housing supply,” and summarized existing Fairfax standards: ALUs are subordinate secondary units allowed only with detached single-family homes, limited to two people and two bedrooms, with interior units capped at 800 square feet or 40% of the dwelling and detached units capped at 1,200 square feet. Judge said the county requires an initial administrative or special permit (renewed after a two-year initial period, then every five years) and an additional off-street parking space for ALUs.

Staff recited implementation figures and trouble spots. According to staff, about 203 administrative ALU permits have been approved since 2021, with 134 currently active and 69 that lapsed after…