Governor Healey Announces More Than 1,200 ADUs Approved in First Year with More to Come

Governor Healey Announces More Than 1,200 ADUs Approved in First Year with More to Come 

Design Challenge, technical support and financing will help build on early momentum and accelerate production 

BOSTON – One year after Governor Maura Healey’s Affordable Homes Act allowed accessory dwelling units (ADUs) to be built by right across Massachusetts, cities and towns have permitted or approved 1,224 ADUs to date in 217 communities — an early snapshot of progress as communities implement the new statewide standard and homeowners begin moving projects forward. Governor Healey recently announced several new initiatives to build on this progress and accelerate the production of ADUs to help lower costs statewide. 

“ADUs are one of the most practical ways to add homes and lower costs. They allow older adults to age near their loved ones and young adults to live independently while starting their careers,” said Governor Maura Healey. “This first-year data shows homeowners are already starting to take advantage of our new law, and we’re going to keep making it easier and cheaper to build ADUs so we can bring down housing costs for everyone.” 

“It's great to see so many people across Massachusetts signing up to build ADUs,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “By setting clear rules statewide and backing them up with real support, we’re giving families more options while helping cities and towns grow housing.”  

“The first-year data shows the Affordable Homes Act is working as intended by making ADUs simpler to permit across Massachusetts,” said Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus. “Now we’re capitalizing on that momentum with designs, technical assistance and affordable financing to accelerate ADU production and help relieve our housing shortage.”   

An updated interactive map tracking ADU applications and approvals can be found at Mass.gov/ADUtracker. The top 10 communities for ADU approvals in 2025 are: 

 

Community   (excluding Boston)	Number of Approved ADUs
Plymouth	34
Lawrence	32
Nantucket	27
Lowell	26
Milton	24
Somerville	24
Worcester	23
Methuen	21
Medford	19
Fairhaven	18

 

Because the statewide by-right standard is still new and municipal reporting is ongoing, these figures represent an initial snapshot and are expected to grow over time. Updated progress can be found at mass.gov/ADU.  

To build on early progress and reduce the cost and complexity of building ADUs, the Healey-Driscoll Administration is advancing three tools to help homeowners design, finance and build ADUs: 

The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (HLC) launched the ADU Design Challenge on December 15, inviting designers, architects and other design professionals to submit replicable, high-quality ADU designs that can be adapted by homeowners and local builders. The Design Challenge reduces predevelopment costs by making strong designs publicly available, streamline permitting by encouraging compliant designs and promote innovation, including sustainable materials, climate-resilient design and accessible layouts that support the needs of aging residents and families. The Design Challenge is sponsored by Eastern Bank Foundation, The Boston Foundation, AIA Massachusetts and Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP), with roughly $60,000 to $70,000 in sponsor commitments to support the challenge, prizes and outreach. Design winners will be announced in late April 2026 and final designs will be available for download on mass.gov. 

Backed by $10 million over two years from the Governor’s fiscal 2026-2030 Capital Investment Plan, MHP is also developing a statewide ADU Incentive Program to promote ADU construction and support homeowners through the predevelopment and construction process. The program will also identify and address remaining barriers to ADU development beyond zoning, providing insight for future statewide policy and program design. MHP anticipates this initiative will support the creation of hundreds of ADUs in its first two years and inform the next phase of policy and investment. MHP plans to launch the full program in spring 2026. 

Lastly, to address financing barriers that can prevent homeowners from constructing an ADU, MassHousing is developing a new ADU construction loan program. MassHousing authorized up to $20 million for mission-oriented homeownership activities, a portion of which will support the ADU loan program. The program is expected to provide low-cost subordinate mortgage loans designed to finance ADU construction, targeted toward low- and moderate-income homeowners who may not be able to access home equity financing. This financial support is anticipated to be available in spring 2026. 

A clearer standard 

Before the Affordable Homes Act, Massachusetts had no statewide standard for ADU zoning and permitting. A patchwork of requirements — including owner-occupancy rules, small size limits, subjective design reviews and discretionary local approvals — often made ADUs difficult or illegal to build. 

Now, ADUs up to 900 square feet or less than 50% of the square foot living space of the main home can be built by right in single-family zoning districts statewide, creating a simpler, more consistent pathway for homeowners to add a small home on their property while supporting housing production in a way that fits existing neighborhoods. 

Since taking office, Governor Healey has focused on increasing housing production and lowering costs. To build more homes, she has taken action to speed up the permitting process, turn state land into thousands of new homes, convert downtown commercial space into apartments, create a first-in-the-nation fund to finance mixed-income development in a time of high interest rates, and legalize Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). This year, her administration will be offering low-cost financing and free designs for anyone who wants to add an ADU to their home. To help people afford their mortgages and rents right now, she banned mandatory renter-paid broker fees, gave seniors up to $2,800 a year to help with housing costs, and expanded home inspection protections.