It’s Official: Accessory Dwelling Units Approved For Montclair Renters

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Not sure what an “accessory dwelling unit” is? It may be time to brush up on the concept if you live in Montclair.

On Tuesday, the town council gave a final green light to a new ordinance that will permit accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in Montclair.

The concept of ADUs in Montclair was previously discussed at a symposium in June 2022 (watch the video here).

Accessory dwelling units are an old idea that has seen new life in recent years. The concept is simple: create a second, smaller dwelling attached to a single-family house, which can be rented out to tenants or used in other ways.

Ordinance O-22-27 amends Montclair Code Chapter 347 (Zoning) to permit accessory dwelling units as an accessory use for one and two-family dwellings in the R-O, R-O(A), R-1 and R-2 Zones. The property owner must live in the primary structure or the ADU. One off street parking space must be provided, and units must be between 300 and 800 square feet in size.

The ordinance was unanimously approved on second reading Tuesday. Watch the meeting video below.

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site. Don’t forget to visit the Patch Montclair Facebook page.