Detached Mother-in-law suite, courtesy of the Sightline Housing Solutions Photo Library, CC BY 2.0 (cropped)

Time is running out – our window is closing to make Accessory Living Units a real housing solution for Fairfax County. While the most recent staff recommendations include some big wins, the county is still unwilling to let go of minimum lot sizes for standalone ALUs.

To be clear, this is not a standard policy for accessory homes. None of our neighboring jurisdictions require minimum lot sizes, but Fairfax County wants anyone with less than 36,000 square feet (that’s almost an acre!) to go through a burdensome special permit process to access this housing option. Join us in urging the county to remove the minimum lot size requirement ahead of the upcoming hearings! 

How can I take action?

If you haven’t yet, NOW is the time to send a letter to the county. Your voice is extremely important!

Want to make an even bigger impact? We cannot over-emphasize the importance of testimonials. Luckily, Fairfax County makes it very easy to offer testimony. We’ll be there in-person, but you can also testify by calling in or recording a video.

Oct. 29 – Planning Commission
Nov. 17 – Board of Supervisors

Please email becca@smartergrowth.net if you have questions – we are more than happy to help you with signing up, drafting comments, or finding the right format for you.

So – what’s in the Staff Report? 

First, the good news. County staff heard your voices and supported key recommendations we pushed for in our initial campaign, including: 

• Removing mandated parking requirements (this is big!)
• Dropping owner-occupancy requirements.
• Allowing standard-compliant ALUs by-right, without the need for additional administrative permits.
• Dropping permit renewal requirements.
• Permitting at least three occupants per unit, with the potential to go up to four. 

The proposed minimum lot size requirement excludes 86% of homeowners from building backyard cottages, and is particularly challenging for homeowners with smaller, transit-adjacent lots. This creates a major tripwire that will undermine the intention of this policy to create access to a flexible, cost-effective housing option. Help us finish the campaign strong by sending a message to the county – we want to see real housing reforms!

Why Accessory Dwellings Matter for Fairfax County

Known as granny flats, in-law suites, or backyard cottages, accessory dwellings are among the most versatile and cost-effective housing options available.

• Flexibility for Every Stage of Life: ALUs allow older adults to age in place with dignity, offer young adults a place to live while saving money for college or their first home, and make intergenerational living accessible.
• Affordable by Design: Because of their smaller footprint, ALUs are naturally lower cost to construct and rent, expanding housing choices without requiring massive infrastructure changes.
• Meeting Our Housing Goals: Fairfax County needs tens of thousands of new homes over the next decade to meet our housing needs. Letting homeowners safely build ALUs on their own property is one of the easiest ways to increase our housing supply.

We have the ability to make ALUs a powerful tool in the effort to expand access to housing for more Fairfax residents. We hope you will express your thoughts to the county in support of relaxing the current ALU regulations and making this an actionable housing strategy.