The city of Boston has released new tools to assist residents in building accessory dwelling units (or in-law apartments) on their property.
Allowing accessory dwelling units was a key initiative of the statewide $5.1 billion Affordable Homes Act Gov. Maura Healey signed in August. The act allows accessory dwelling units under 900 square feet on single-family lots. These can be attached or detached from a single-family home, such as basement or attic conversions, backyard cottages or bump-out additions.
While still subject to local building codes, the new policy standardizes zoning regulations statewide, allowing homeowners on single-family lots to add small units without needing a special permit or variance, unless they wish to add more than one unit…