Newton started allowing ADUs in 1987, but in the four decades since, only 122 ADUs have been built. After Gov. Maura Healey signed a massive housing bill last year that has requirements for zoning for ADUs, the City Council and the Planning Department decided to look at ways the city’s ADU ordinance could be changed.
The version that was passed:
- allows new internal ADUs of up to 1,000 square feet by-right and existing converted ADUs of up to 1,200 square feet by-right (no special review required).
- allows new detached ADUs of up to 1,000 square feet by-right and existing converted ADUs of up to 1,200 square feet by-right.
- allows detached ADUs of up to 1,500 square feet of floor space with a special permit.
- has no screening requirement, but a need for screening can be determined by special permit.
- has no owner occupancy requirements for existing converted ADUs.
- has no owner occupancy requirements for internal ADUs or detached ADUs with less than 1,000 square feet of floor space and allows the permitting authority to impose owner occupancy requirements on larger ADUs if deemed appropriate.
- allows historic carriage house conversions and removes the 15-foot buffer that used to be imposed with them.
