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Town attorney: new Virginia ADU law permits accessory units by right; Occoquan urged to adopt local ordinance
Summary
Town Attorney Martin Crim told the council the state ADU law that takes effect July 1, 2027 contains no population-based exemptions and will permit accessory dwelling units by right; he recommended the Town adopt a local ordinance to implement clear standards.
Town Attorney Martin Crim told the Occoquan Town Council on June 16 that the new Virginia accessory dwelling unit (ADU) law, effective July 1, 2027, does not include population-based exemptions and will permit ADUs by right under state law.
Crim recommended that the Town adopt a local ordinance to clearly implement the state requirements and reduce ambiguity by establishing well-defined standards consistent with the new law. The council asked questions about exemptions and implementation timing; Crim advised that a local ordinance would help the Town set objective standards that align with state requirements.
The comment followed Crim’s broader legal update, in which he also noted the state-level discussion of cannabis being folded into the budget and made a lighter cultural note that Occoquan is referenced in a recent film. Council direction on a draft local ADU ordinance was not recorded at the meeting; Town staff and legal counsel will need to prepare recommended language for future consideration.
