Montgomery County committee hears ADU update; staff cite 265 permits since 2019 and say financing remains the key barrier

Montgomery County Council President Friedson on July 29 convened the Planning, Housing and Parks Committee to receive an update on accessory dwelling units (ADUs), hearing a national overview from AARP, implementation data from county housing and permitting staff, and a summary of Office of Legislative Oversight research.

"Now, probably $150,000 to $250,000 to build that same structure" is the current estimated construction cost range for an ADU, Friedson said, echoing a concern that repeatedly surfaced in the meeting about financing as the principal barrier to wider ADU uptake.

Samar Jha of AARP framed ADUs as independent, accessory living units that can expand housing choices, support aging-in-place and provide rental income. Jha said ADUs are experiencing renewed interest nationally but that data collection is uneven; she urged pairing liberalized local rules with financing supports and cautioned against "poison-pill" restrictions such as strict owner-occupancy covenants, mandatory parking minimums and conditional-use processes that slow or block production.

County permitting and licensing staff presented…