Workshop Scheduled In Fairfield On Accessory Dwelling Units

News release from the Town of Fairfield:

FAIRFIELD, CT — The Town of Fairfield will hold a workshop on accessory dwelling units (ADUs), more commonly known as accessory or “in-law” apartments, beginning at 7:00 PM on Thursday, November 20, 2025, in the Event Space located above the Fairfield University Store, located at 1499 Post Road. The workshop is free and open to the public, and is being hosted by the Town of Fairfield’s Affordable Housing Committee.

During this informative ninety-minute workshop, participants can learn more about accessory dwelling units and changes to the Town’s zoning regulations that make it easier to establish one. The program will include a moderated panel discussion of key design considerations and permitting requirements in the Town of Fairfield to establish an accessory dwelling unit (ADU), as well as information on benefits, potential costs and common pitfalls that homeowners should avoid. Panelists are expected to include Planning Director Emmeline Harrigan, realtor Denise Walsh and local builder Oscar Leal of Beach Front Homes, LLC, as well as Fairfield resident and homeowner Brian Fitzgerald, who recently created a detached accessory dwelling unit on his property. Light refreshments will be provided.

An Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) is a residential unit that can be added to a single-family home. ADUs can be detached (a separate building) from the main home, an addition to the main home, a conversion of existing space within the home, or a conversion of a garage into an ADU. Accessory
dwellings are independent housing units that have their own kitchens, bathrooms, living areas, and
entrances. The property owner must reside either in the primary or accessory dwelling unit.

In advance of the upcoming workshop, the Affordable Housing Committee is asking the public’s help in completing a very short survey to better gauge awareness and interest in accessory apartments. The survey, posted here, should only take a few minutes, but will be extremely helpful in guiding the Committee’s work.

“The Town is committed to providing a range of housing options to meet the diverse needs of our
residents. I encourage Fairfield residents interested in learning more about accessory apartments to
complete the survey and attend this important workshop,” commented First Selectman Christine Vitale.

Accessory dwelling units have been on the rise in recent years, including in Fairfield. According to a
2020 study by Freddie Mac, first-time listings of ADUs on the Multiple Listing Service have increased
on average by 8.6% year over year in the prior decade. Additionally, properties with an ADU are highly sought after. According to the National Association of Realtors, 17% of homes purchased in
2024 were for multi-generational households. There are presently more than 275 legal accessory
apartments in Fairfield alone.

While Fairfield has long permitted accessory apartments, the Town’s Affordable Housing Committee,
in conjunction with Fairfield Senior Advocates and FairPlan, successfully sought changes to the
Town’s zoning regulations to allow ADUs to be incorporated into new construction and as detached
structures in certain parts of Town. Since the latest regulations were enacted in 2022, the Town has
approved more than three dozen new accessory dwelling unit applications.

Urb Leimkuhler, Chairman of the Town’s Affordable Housing Committee, added, “Accessory
apartments are smart housing, in that they better leverage our existing housing stock and do so in a
way that is sensitive to existing neighborhoods.” He noted that accessory apartments can provide
much-needed housing options for not just seniors, but millennials and GenZers as well. “Our mission, as the Town’s Affordable Housing Committee, is to promote a wide range of housing choices for households of all incomes and ages in Fairfield, and accessory apartments are an important component of our overall housing strategy,” Mr. Leimkuhler concluded.

While the event is being held free of charge, participants are asked to pre-register using this link.