October 6, 2026

Montgomery County Council
100 Maryland Ave
Rockville, MD 20850

Bill 41-26, Landlord-Tenant Relations – Licensing Procedures and Fees – Accessory Dwelling Unit (Support)

Thank you for the opportunity to share testimony on behalf of the Coalition for Smarter Growth. CSG advocates for building walkable, inclusive, transit-oriented communities as the most sustainable and equitable way for the DC region to grow and provide opportunities for all.

We are writing in strong support of Bill 41-26 to expand access to accessory dwelling units (ADUs). This bill will reduce barriers for those who want to provide ADUs for rent, and increase affordable access to these homes for renters.

ADUs are a remarkably versatile housing option that can take many different forms—from a freestanding tiny home to a basement or garage apartment —and serve many different needs for people of diverse ages, incomes, and abilities. 

They have been championed by organizations from Habitat for Humanity to AARP as solutions to incrementally add needed new homes without increasing environmentally damaging sprawl, and provide more people access to affordable living near transit, jobs, and amenities.  

As Montgomery County faces a housing shortage that makes it difficult for young professionals to afford to live here and for older adults to stay in their communities as they seek to downsize, ADUs offer a chance to create relatively small, affordable homes woven seamlessly into the fabric of existing communities. 

This is a common-sense bill that will allow more people to build and rent out ADUs—and thus allow more people to find great homes in places where they want to live. We applaud the sponsors, Council President Natali Fani-Gonzalez and Councilmember Andrew Friedson, as well as their co-sponsors, for listening to community feedback about the barriers currently preventing many from pursuing building and renting out ADUs, and acting to address these barriers and expand access. 

Removing the owner-occupancy requirement for ADU rental licenses will remove one of the main obstacles identified by many property owners who have considered building ADUs, while incentivizing affordable rents by waiving permitting fees will give lower-income renters access to these homes, and offset rising construction costs for those considering building ADUs.

This bill builds on the reforms passed by the Council in 2019, and the state-level reforms adopted by the Council earlier this year to expand ADU production and access. We look forward to seeing more people be able to live in these inclusive, sustainable, and welcoming homes across Montgomery County.

We thank the sponsors and co-sponsors for introducing this bill, and urge the Council to support Bill 41-26.

Sincerely,
Carrie Kisicki
Maryland Housing Advocacy Manager