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Advisory group identifies fees, septic/well limits and costs as barriers to ADU growth in Frederick County
Summary
County staff presented recent trends in accessory dwelling units and advisory group members identified county fees, well/septic constraints, construction costs and low awareness as primary barriers to ADU development in Frederick County.
Karin Flom, a county planning staff member, presented an overview of Frederick County’s accessory dwelling unit (ADU) ordinance, its evolution, and recent trends in completed ADU projects during the Jan. 23 Housing Element advisory group meeting.
Advisory group members said several factors limit ADU construction locally: county fees that increase project costs, limits tied to private well and septic capacity in some areas, rising construction expenses, and a low level of public awareness that ADUs are an available housing option. Members noted these constraints when considering ADUs’ potential to expand affordable and accessible housing supply.
The group discussed how regulatory and infrastructure barriers interact: in parts of the county served by private wells or septic systems, adding a unit can trigger capacity or permitting hurdles that increase costs and complexity. Members suggested staff consider fee structures, outreach to raise awareness, and coordination with permitting and health departments when the Housing Element team evaluates ADUs as a policy tool.
No formal actions or votes were taken. Staff will incorporate ADU-related barriers into the Housing Element outreach and follow-up work with the Division of Housing’s Affordable Housing Needs Assessment.
