Fairfax County recently released proposed changes to its Accessory Living Unit (ALU) regulations. While heading in the right direction, they still don’t go far enough.

As we reach the final stages of this process, we need YOU to speak up for the commonsense updates that will make this policy a real housing solution for Fairfax County. Email the county today to let them know what changes you want to see!

Now is your opportunity to tell the county why increasing access to this housing option matters. We are close – many of the county’s proposed changes align with the national best practices that CSG has advocated for. However, the rules for detached ALUs remain the most restrictive in the region, and opponents seek to weaken staff recommendations further. We hope you will send a letter to the county, supporting these positions:

• Remove minimum lot size for detached ALUs.
• Remove mandatory parking requirements.
• Allow standard-compliant ALUs to be approved by-right, eliminating the need for separate zoning administrative permits.
• Drop owner-occupancy requirements.
• Permit at least three occupants per unit.

Do you have a personal story related to accessory homes? We encourage you to customize your email to let the county know what this housing solution means to you.

For me, staying in a family friend’s backyard cottage gave me access to nearby work and helped me save money for college. Today, my nephew is doing the same! We hope you will share your own experiences with the county on how these kinds of homes can positively affect our lives. 

Why accessory dwellings?

Known by many names – granny flats, in-law suites, backyard cottages – accessory dwellings are one of the most versatile and cost effective housing options offering homeowners flexibility for various stages of life.

Whether that’s aging in place, opting for inter-generational living, or having somewhere for your college grad to land, ADUs offer choices as lives change. With Fairfax County in need of at least 40,000 new homes by 2035, enabling homeowners to build their own ALUs is one of the most straightforward ways we can increase our stock of one of the most inexpensive housing options. 

Yet, Fairfax County has stricter regulations than any of our neighboring jurisdictions, which has made it extremely difficult to build accessory dwellings. By requiring prohibitive minimum lot sizes, parking requirements, and occupancy limits, the county’s current regulations severely limit the potential impact of this policy. 

Let’s make sure the county updates the zoning ordinance so accessory dwellings become a very real housing option in Fairfax.