Charles County introduces ADU zoning changes, schedules July public hearing

Charles County commissioners introduced a zoning text amendment on April 28 to bring local rules for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) into compliance with Maryland law and county affordable housing goals.

Joel Binkley, planning supervisor in Planning, Growth & Management, said the proposal would remove the storage-to-living-space equivalency and raise the allowable ADU size to 75% of the primary dwelling. "We are bringing our regulations into compliance with that state law by allowing accessory dwelling units that do not have to have the same amount of storage space as living space," Binkley said.

Devin Parker, planner with Planning, Growth & Management, told the board the change follows the Maryland Department of Planning recommendations and the county ffordable Housing Report; the Planning Commission voted unanimously to advance the changes on March 23. "This morning, we are presenting the zoning text amendment for accessory dwelling units," Parker said, summarizing the staff presentation.

Under the proposed text amendment: ADUs would be allowed up to 75% of the size of the home on the property; only one ADU would be permitted per lot; ADUs would be limited to two bedrooms and to 24 feet in height; internal ADUs would be allowed in townhouses only when planned from the outset; and county health and building rules would continue to govern septic, lot-size and building-footprint requirements.

Commissioners asked staff how setbacks, septic connections and HOAs would be handled. Planning staff said setbacks would follow existing accessory-building rules (commonly a six-foot separation in many scenarios) and that, based on Health Department rules, tapping an existing septic is generally allowed only when an ADU is attached or functionally integrated with the primary dwelling; staff recommended follow-up with the Health Department for technical determinations.

Staff also said the state law restricts using density as a basis to deny ADUs and limits local public-comment processes for by-right ADUs; local HOA design standards would still apply where they exist.

The board voted to introduce proposed Bill 2026-06 (zoning text amendment 25-189) and to schedule a public hearing for Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at 6 p.m. in the Government Building (200 Baltimore Street), to be conducted in a hybrid format. The planning staff said the county is working to meet a state deadline for the changes to be adopted by October 1, 2026.

The public hearing will be the next formal opportunity for residents and stakeholders to submit comments before the board considers adoption.