ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball has signed into law Council Bill (CB) 3-2026 (Zoning Regulation Amendment (ZRA) 218), expanding opportunities for the construction of accessory dwelling units (ADUs), smaller, independent homes located on the same property as a primary residence, in Howard County. Approved by the Howard County Council on Monday, February 2nd, in a 4-1 bipartisan vote, CB3-2026 aligns Howard County Government’s zoning regulations with the broader goals of the County’s HoCo By Design General Plan and Housing Opportunities Master Plan, as well as the State’s recently adopted ADU law.
This legislation expands housing choices across our county, particularly for the next generation of our workforce and older adults looking to downsize while staying in our community. Whether it is college students or recent graduates; teachers, nurses or childcare providers; family members; or retirees, ADUs will thoughtfully create a variety of smaller housing options throughout our community that will meet a diverse set of needs. By supporting the development of ADUs, we will strengthen our neighborhoods, promote equity, and create a more inclusive and resilient housing landscape for everyone.
Passed by the Maryland General Assembly in 2025, House Bill (HB) 1466 establishes a clear policy directive to promote and encourage the creation of ADUs as a means of addressing the diverse housing needs of Maryland residents. The legislation requires counties and municipalities to adopt local laws by October 1, 2026, authorizing the development of ADUs on qualifying properties, subject to specific requirements.
“‘Missing middle’ housing options, like ADUs, are some of the most important tools we have to expand housing supply and lower costs for Maryland families," said Maryland Secretary of Housing and Community Development Jake Day. “This legislation is sensible, practical, and fair – it will allow Marylanders to build smaller, more affordable homes on their own properties that expand opportunity without expanding sprawl. Thank you to Howard County for being a strong partner in our work to ease the housing crisis and bring costs down for Maryland families.”
CB3-2026 (ZRA-218) builds upon the recommendations outlined in the Department of Planning and Zoning’s (DPZ) HoCo By Design and the Department of Housing and Community Development’s Housing Opportunities Master Plan. Both HoCo By Design and the Housing Opportunities Master Plan call for more diverse and affordable housing options. This legislation allows single family homeowners to either construct attached and detached ADUs or renovate existing space to accommodate an attached ADU, in various residential zoning districts.
These amendments streamline and improve ADU regulations to make development more flexible, accessible and beneficial to our residents. By allowing a wider range of housing unit types, maintaining the owner-occupancy requirement and by-right use for ADUs, removing lot size requirements while ensuring neighborhood character is preserved through established setback criteria and expanded lot coverage maximums, we are creating practical pathways for expanding housing affordability across the county.
Whether a first-time homebuyer, a community member in need of flexible living arrangements, or an older adult looking for a way to age in place, CB3-2026 (ZRA 2018) allows for the smaller, lower-cost homes that meet residents where they are. Examples of ADUs include small, detached cottages, garage apartments, townhome basement units, and in-law suites.
Here is what others had to say:
- Opel Jones, County Council Chairperson – “I am thoroughly pleased the County Council approved Council Bill 3-2026 (ZRA-218), easing setbacks for Accessory Dwelling Units. Council Bill 3 complies with current state law (HB1466), permitting ADU structures on most single-family lots, all of which benefit multigenerational families.”
- Christiana Rigby, County Council Vice-Chairperson – “This is a win for our seniors, who can now age in place with dignity, staying connected to the neighborhoods they’ve helped build for decades. It’s a win for young adults seeking a foothold in the community they call home, and for the caregivers who can now provide support to loved ones while maintaining the proximity and privacy everyone deserves.”
- Jessamine Duvall, Executive Director of Columbia Housing Center – “A diverse range of housing types and price points has always been the ‘secret sauce’ behind the success and desirability of Columbia and Howard County. To maintain our community's strength, we must prioritize housing variety as a core community value. Adopting by-right ADU regulations isn't just about adding units; it’s about honoring our community’s legacy of inclusion and ensuring that our neighborhoods remain vibrant, multigenerational, and accessible for the next generation of residents.”
- Jackie Eng, Coordinator, Housing Affordability Coalition – “The Coalition applauds the Administration for forwarding and the County Council for passing this ADU legislation. ADUs offer the opportunity for homeowners to use flexible, small-scale housing options to meet their personal family or economic needs, while addressing the community's need for ‘missing middle,’ less expensive housing. ADUs alone will not solve our housing shortage, but they can be a vital tool in our response to that shortage.”
- Carrie Britt, People Acting Together in Howard (PATH) Leader and Member, First Baptist Church of Guilford – “Today was an impactful step for Affordable Housing! This bill is hope for seniors, caregivers, people living with disabilities, the ‘sandwich generation’ and more. It creates new units alongside or in existing homes to help stabilize families, support those that need assistance with activities of daily living and allow more people to become homeowners. PATH is excited this is signed into law.”
To learn more about ADUs, visit DPZ’s “Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)” website.