ADU Applications Surge Statewide under Governor Healey's Affordable Homes Act

 ADU Applications Surge Statewide under Governor Healey's Affordable Homes Act 

550+ approvals to date under new by-right rules in first half of 2025 

BOSTON – New survey data from the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities shows that homeowners across Massachusetts are embracing accessory dwelling units (ADUs) following Governor Maura Healey’s Affordable Homes Act, which allows ADUs to built by-right on single-family properties statewide. 

 

ADUs, also known as in-law apartments, are one strategy for building new homes and lowering costs. In the first six months of 2025, homeowners in 170 communities filed 844 applications to build ADUs on their properties, of which at least 550 had been approved as of July 2025.  

 

"Massachusetts needs more homes to drive down costs for everyone. That’s why, with the Legislature, we legalized ADUs by right in the Affordable Homes Act," said Governor Maura Healey. "ADUs can help seniors afford to stay in the communities they love, give families a chance to earn some extra income or provide an individual with disabilities more independence. It’s great that hundreds of people across Massachusetts are taking advantage of this effective way to build more reasonably-priced homes – which will benefit us all." 

  

"We’re moving quickly to add homes that fit every kind of household, at every stage of life," said Lieutenant Governor Kimberly Driscoll. "The Affordable Homes Act gave cities and towns straightforward tools, and they’re already working." 

 

"The Healey-Driscoll Administration is using every available resource to end our housing shortage, and the data is clear: This one change is unlocking more housing while filling a need for many families," said Secretary Ed Augustus, Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities. "The goal of the Affordable Homes Act was to give renters and homeowners greater choice over where they live and to lower their costs. Streamlining the process for building an ADU will continue to prove essential in solving our housing crisis." 

   

 

 

 

 

Homeowners across the state are jumping at the opportunity to add supplemental rental income, add value to their homes, and provide new living space for tenants, aging family members, and adult children with complex needs. The top 10 communities for ADU applications are: 

 

Community (excluding Boston)	ADU Applications
Plymouth	32
Milton	25
Worcester	24
Newton	19
Fairhaven	18
Billerica	18
Haverhill	17
Revere	17
Lawrence	14
Falmouth	14

 

 

Before the Affordable Homes Act, Massachusetts had no statewide standard for ADU zoning and permitting. A patchwork of requirements including owner-occupancy restrictions, small size limits, subjective design reviews and discretionary approvals often made ADUs difficult to build. Now, ADUs under 900 square feet can be built by-right in single-family zoning districts statewide (excluding Boston, which has its own ADU by-right ordinance). 

 

“I’ve been a building inspector for over 25 years, and it’s become increasingly common for seniors or young families to ask whether they can add an accessory dwelling unit on their property to help make ends meet,” said Hudson Building Commissioner Robert S. Berger. “For many years, I had to give them the disappointing answer that it wasn’t possible due to zoning restrictions and the rule against having two principal uses on one lot. With the Governor’s signing of the Affordable Homes Act, that has changed. Now, seniors can remain in the homes they love, and homeowners have a clear pathway to create additional housing — helping address our broader housing crisis. Here in Hudson, the response has been overwhelmingly positive. To my delight, permit applications for ADUs continue to come in, showing real enthusiasm from our community.” 

  

An interactive map tracking ADU applications can be found at Mass.gov/ADU. Data was gathered from an EOHLC survey of municipal building inspectors between July 9 and Aug. 1, 2025. Application and permitting numbers are for the period of Jan. 1 to June 30, 2025. A total of 242 communities responded to the first survey. HLC will survey municipalities again in January 2026 to assess the first full year of ADU activity and to collect more detailed information on location, size and type of ADUs being applied for.  

 

Residents interested in developing an ADU should contact their city or town building or inspectional services departments which will be able to give them an understanding of the local rules and how they can apply for a permit. Additionally, residents seeking to build an ADU for people with disabilities or people over 60 may be eligible for no-interest financing through the state’s Home Modification Loan Program. 

 

Municipalities who need assistance drafting, conducting community planning, and enacting local ADU rules may apply for funding through the Community One Stop for Growth.