Newton City Council Amends Accessory Apartment Ordinance

NEWTON, MA — The Newton City Council recently made it easier for homeowners to create accessory dwelling units (ADUs) on their property, Mayor Ruthanne Fuller said in a community update.

These small apartments, sometimes called in-law apartments, are located within an owner-occupied home, or sometimes in a detached structure such as a garage. Because they are an important source of housing in the city, councilors approved three targeted amendments and made a minor language clarification, Fuller said.

The updates include removing the requirement that a home must be at least four years old before an ADU could be added, allowing small detached ADUs by-right when they are not larger than 900 total square feet, and relaxing the required side and rear setbacks.

Newton first allowed accessory apartments in 1987 and the ordinance has been amended several times since, most recently in 2017. The city currently has 106 accessory apartments in Newton.

A brief summary of the changes and the revised ordinance language is available here. Residents who are interested in adding an accessory apartment may email Anthony Ciccariello at aciccariello@newtonma.gov.