At this week’s City Council worksession, we’ll be discussing the implications of the Maryland Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) Act of 2025 and what it could mean for College Park.
Accessory Dwelling Units—often called ADUs—are small, independent living spaces located on the same property as a primary home. These can include basement apartments, garage units, or backyard cottages. Across the country, ADUs are increasingly being used as a way to expand housing options, support multigenerational living, and provide additional rental opportunities.
The new State law aims to make it easier for homeowners to create ADUs by setting certain standards and expectations for local jurisdictions. However, in Prince George’s County, the detailed rules and regulations that will govern how ADUs are implemented are still being developed. That means there is an important window right now for College Park to provide input and help shape how this policy is applied locally.
At the worksession, our staff will walk us through the key elements of the State law and outline potential impacts on our community. This includes considerations such as neighborhood compatibility, parking, design standards, and how ADUs may affect housing affordability and availability.
For College Park, this is a balancing conversation.
On one hand, ADUs can provide more flexible and diverse housing options. They can help homeowners generate additional income, allow families to live closer together, and create smaller, potentially more affordable rental units in our community.
On the other hand, we also want to ensure that any changes align with neighborhood character, infrastructure capacity, and our broader housing goals. Since the City does not control zoning directly—those decisions are made at the County level—our role is to advocate effectively for policies that reflect the needs and priorities of our residents.
This discussion will help guide how we engage with Prince George’s County as it develops its ADU legislation. It’s an opportunity for us to be proactive and thoughtful about how we want to see this new housing option implemented in College Park.
As always, I welcome your thoughts on this topic.