ADUs: Breathing New Life into Massachusetts Homes
Massachusetts is embracing a housing revolution, one that blends the charm of traditional architecture with the flexibility of modern living. It’s called the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU), and it’s changing the way we think about homes.
WHAT IS AN ADU?
An Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) is a separate, smaller dwelling unit that can be added to a residential property.
ADUs can be created by repurposing existing living space, creating new living space from unused areas of the existing home (like a basement or attic), building an addition to an existing home, converting an existing garage, barn or similar, or building a new smaller building on a lot. Often called “granny flats,” or “in-law apartments,” ADUs are sometimes used to support multigenerational families or to provide smaller homes that meet specific needs.
ADUs can be classified by their physical relationship to the primary unit or units, with ADUs described as:
Make it stand out.
-
Internal ADU
Internal: A unit that is inside the main building, maybe with a small addition. The entrance is typically located off of a shared entry hall.
-
Attached ADU
Attached: A building that is adjacent to the main building, or a major addition, typically with its own separate entrance.
-
Detached ADU
Detached: A building on its own, with its own entrance.
