Accessory Dwellings: Background on Development of Arlington’s Zoning Ordinance Provisions : Housing Division : Arlington, Virginia

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Accessory Dwellings: Background on Development of Arlington’s Zoning Ordinance Provisions

Application Process for: Accessory Dwellings & Family/Caregiver Suite Permits

On this page:

Arlington County Board Approves Accessory Dwellings
Code Enforcement
County Board Report
Demographic Data
Family/Caregiver Suites Proposal
Forums
Housing Commission Report
Other Jurisdictions
Research
Timeline

Arlington County Board Approves Accessory Dwellings

Board Also Allows Non-Relatives in Family/Caregiver Suites

On July 19, 2008 the Arlington County Board approved amendments to the Zoning Ordinance that will allow accessory dwellings in single-family homes and non-relatives to live in family/caregiver suites in single-family homes. Key elements of the approved changes to the Zoning Ordinance are provided in a summary.

The Board also enacted strict requirements for accessory dwellings, including a cap that will restrict the number of new accessory dwellings to no more than 28 a year. In addition, the Board authorized staff to prepare, before the end of the year, a proposed Zoning Ordinance change that would provide for civil penalties for zoning violations, including overcrowding.

The changes came after months of public discussion and review by civic associations and County advisory boards. Board members said the moves will accomplish several goals:

• Help elders age in place;

• Increase the stock of affordable housing, with little government investment; and

• Provide an income stream for homeowners to reduce housing costs.

Family/Caregiver Suites: Effective immediately, up to two persons unrelated to the homeowner (one of whom is a caregiver) may live in a family/caregiver suite in a single-family home, to provide care or assistance to a child, elder or person with disability living in the main building. Previously, only persons related to the homeowner were allowed to occupy a family/caregiver suite.

Accessory Dwellings: The Board authorized creation of a secondary living unit within a single-family home under a strict set of guidelines. Up to two persons, who may be unrelated to the homeowners, could be housed in the accessory dwelling. The homeowner must live in the main or accessory dwelling and must have lived there one year before approval of an accessory dwelling.

The effective date of the changes is January 1, 2009. It includes a number of restrictions meant to ensure that the character of Arlington’s neighborhoods will not be harmed. Only one accessory dwelling would be allowed per lot, and only as a part of the main dwelling, not as a separate building. The size of the accessory dwelling is limited to no more than 750 square feet.

The Board noted that a cautious approach to the change will allow the County to assess the impact of the units on neighborhoods, and their ability to meet the stated goals.

County Board Report on Accessory Dwelling Proposal

(Note: The final County Board report, its attachments, and the Summary of Recommendations are available on the web, as well as the PowerPoint presentation.)

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Code Enforcement - Overcrowding or Illegal Accessory Dwellings

Code Enforcement Initiative

File a Complaint

Information Needed: where the violation is occurring; a description of the complaint; and any details that may help the inspector verify the problem (e.g. time of day when an excessive number of cars are present).

Complainant: If you provide your name, address and phone number, this information will be held in confidence. Anonymous complaints are accepted.

Case Number: A case number allows you to track your case, even if you have made the complaint anonymously. Please request a CE (case) number from the Code Enforcement staff if you wish to track the complaint.

How to file the complaint:

1. Call the Code Enforcement office at 703.228.3232;

OR

2. Click here to send the complaint to Code Enforcement;

OR

3. Fax this Property Maintenance Complaint Form to 703.228.3241;

OR

4. Mail or email this Property Maintenance Complaint Form. The mailing address is:

                    Inspection Services Division
                    Code Enforcement Office
                    2100 Clarendon Blvd, Suite 700
                    Arlington, VA 22201

County Demographics

Elder Population

Demographic Profile of Elders in Arlington
Maps for the Demographic Profile of Elders in Arlington

Forums

    Community Forum on Draft Staff Recommendations - May 1

    Draft Staff Recommendations, May 1, 2008
    Comparison of Housing Commission and Draft Staff Recommendations - May 1, 2008
    Comments and Questions Received at the May 1, 2008 Forum
    Presentation on Staff Recommendations
    May 1 Community Forum Invitation

    Community Forum on the Housing Commission’s Accessory Dwelling Proposal - March 31

    Comments and Questions received at the March 31, 2008 Forum
    March 31 Community Forum Invitation

On December 10, 2007, the Housing Commission approved its Accessory Dwelling Report recommending that the County Board amend the Zoning Ordinance to permit Accessory Dwellings.

Accessory Dwelling Report
Executive Summary of the Report

Other Jurisdictions

The links for each jurisdiction below include highlights of its accessory dwelling ordinance and a link to the locality's ordinance.

Research

AARP Public Policy Institute

Opportunities For Creating Livable Communities, April 2008 (See pages 4-5)
In Brief: Opportunities for Creating Livable Communities (2-page Summary of April 2008 Report)
Accessory Dwelling Units: Model State Act and Local Ordinance

AARP 2007 Policy Book, excerpt on Building Livable Communities

Includes recommendation that “States and local areas should enact legislation based on AARP’s Accessory Dwelling Units: Model State Act and Local Ordinance to promote appropriate options for accessory dwelling units.”

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