Rule Change Considered for 'Mom-in-Law' Apartments

The Montgomery County Planning Department is considering an amendment that would make it easier for county residents to operate accessory apartments.

According to the county, an accessory apartment is "a completely independent living facility with separate cooking, eating, sanitation and sleeping facilities that is either in or added to an existing single-family dwelling or in a separate accessory structure on the same lot as an existing dwelling."

Under the proposal, accessory apartments in some cases would not be subjected to an extensive special exception approval process. The Planning Department's amendment would also make a distinction between the size of the accessory apartment and whether it is "attached" or "detached" from the home.

Public meetings were scheduled Monday afternoon and evening at , 8787 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, Md.

The amendment is available on the Planning Department's website.