Accessory Dwelling Units - Coalition For Smarter Growth

As housing demand continues to outpace supply in the District, creative solutions are needed to provide additional housing in order to reduce rental costs. Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are one such solution. An ADU is a secondary living unit in a house, with a separate entrance/exit. Examples of ADUs include basement apartments, backyard cottages, in-law suites, and garage apartments.

By building ADUs across the city, we can weave additional housing into residential neighborhoods in ways that enhance the community fabric, promote intergenerational living arrangements, and improve housing affordability. After recent changes to the District’s zoning code made it easier for property owners to build ADUs on their lots, the Coalition for Smarter Growth has led the way in promoting the production of ADUs to take advantage of these changes.

Resources

ADU DC Homeowner’s Manual: How to Build an Accessory Apartment or Second Dwelling in the District of Columbia written in collaboration with United Planning Organization and funded by Citi
Our public folder with extensive resources on building an ADU
Our YouTube events playlist
Join our online forum: Interested in joining our growing community of homeowners and professionals working to build more accessory apartments in the District? Join our DC Accessory Apartments Forum here!

Latest Happenings

Testimony: DC Zoning Update on alternative language September 2014

acustis | September 8, 2014

We support most of the proposed changes in the hearing notice for subtitle C, but specifically want to express opposition to the DC Office of Planning proposal to: “Remove the Priority Bus Corridor from the areas within which required parking may be reduced by up to 50% as a matter of right as originally advertised.” Instead, we support the alternative language: “In the Alternative: Retain the Priority Bus Corridor as an area within which required parking may be reduced by up to 50% as a matter of right, as originally setdown on September 9, 2013.”

CSG testimony to DC Zoning Commission on “alternative language”

acustis | September 3, 2014

around in our city’s long decline and current rapid growth, this zoning update is urgently needed. We wish to reiterate our overall support for the ZRR. In particular, we wish to address some of the proposed changes to the language set down last year on September 9, 2013 contained in the hearing notice for September 8-11, 2014 hearings.

Accessory Apartments & Corner Stores: What you should know about the DC Zoning Proposals

acustis | October 30, 2013

ACCESSORY APARTMENTS: Issue heard on Nov. 6, regarding Subtitle D: Residential House (R) Zones: Allow one accessory unit in single family residential zones; Allow accessory apartment in owner-occupied home or existing accessory building (e.g. carriage house or garage) with access through alley or side yard, special exception for any construction or additoin