Planning Department Seeks Rule Change for Accessory Apartments

The Montgomery County Planning Department for the Maryland-National Park and Planning Commission has proposed a zoning text amendment that would make it easier for county residents to operate accessory apartments without always going through an extensive special exception approval process.

What is an accessory apartment? The county defines it as "a completely independent living facility with separate cooking, eating, sanitation and sleeping facilities that is either in or added to an existing single-family dwelling or in a separate accessory structure on the same lot as an existing dwelling."

Community members can learn more about this proposed ZTA at two public meetings today, from 3-4:30 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Both meetings will be held in the at 8787 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring.

At each meeting, planning department staff will give a brief presentation, then open the floor for a question-and-answer period, with additional time for community members to talk with staff, according to the Planning Department's website.

The Planning Department proposes distinguishing between accessory apartment based on two main factors: the size of the apartment and whether it is "attached" or "detached" from the home.

Read the proposed ZTA in full on the Planning Department's website.

Are you for or against relaxing the regulations for accessory apartments? Tell us why in the comments.