As part of the ongoing initiative to update Fairfax County’s existing regulations on accessory dwellings (or accessory living units, as the county calls them), staff will host two virtual community meetings to share proposed changes and discuss next steps to enable more ALUs. This is one of the last opportunities to speak before staff finalize their recommendations! We hope you will join us and share your support for ALUs.
Accessory Living Unit (ALU) Community Meetings
Wed. July 15th at 12:00pm (Teams link)
Mon. July 20th at 7:00pm (Teams link)
Fairfax County’s current rules are far too restrictive to be effective – this is a chance to revise these standards and make ALUs a real tool to help address our housing shortage.
What’s the latest on accessory dwellings in Fairfax County?
Accessory dwellings are one of the most cost effective forms of housing, allowing families to stay together as their life circumstances change, increasing housing access in existing neighborhoods, and providing a potential source of income for homeowners.
Yet, results from the county’s recent survey on possibilities for the county’s revised ALU regulations show extremely mixed results. While a strong majority of residents recognize the value of these homes, almost every response on whether to relax restrictions on size, public hearings, parking, and occupancy limits was split 50/50 between ‘No’ and ‘Yes/Maybe.’
At this pivotal juncture, we need you to help us communicate why accessory dwellings are vital to a healthy housing ecosystem. If you’d like a refresher on all things accessory dwellings (aka granny flats, in-law suites, or backyard cottages), our webpage from the previous survey has all the information you need to get caught up.
We hope to see you support this housing solution at one of the upcoming meetings.