Somers Considers Accessory Apartments

SOMERS, CT — Somers officials are considering whether to allow detached accessory apartments on larger residential properties.

Attorney George Schober presented the idea during a Sept. 10 pre-application discussion with the Planning and Zoning Commission. No formal application has been submitted, and commissioners did not take a vote.

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Somers currently permits accessory apartments only when they are located inside or attached to a single-family home. The principal home and apartment must share an operable door, according to the town's zoning regulations.

Existing rules require an accessory apartment to contain between 600 square feet and 35 percent of the home's total floor area. It may have no more than one bedroom, and the property owner must live in either the main house or apartment.

At least three off-street parking spaces are also required, and the town Health Department must approve the water supply and sewage-disposal systems.

Another Northern Connecticut town already permits detached accessory apartments. Under Granby's zoning regulations, its Planning and Zoning Commission may approve one detached apartment by special permit in several residential and town-center zones.

Granby generally limits accessory apartments to 1,200 square feet, although larger units may be approved by special permit. One of the two units must be occupied by the property owner, and at least three off-street parking spaces are required.

Granby commissioners used those regulations in May 2025 to approve a 1,040-square-foot detached apartment inside an existing building at 198R Salmon Brook St., according to meeting minutes.

The proposal discussed in Somers would similarly allow a second, detached residential structure on the same property.

Preliminary standards discussed during the Sept. 10 meeting included a minimum lot size of 2 acres and a maximum living area of 1,200 square feet. The additional unit would have to meet the town's setback and lot-coverage requirements.

The proposal would also prohibit the detached apartments from being used as short-term rentals.

Commissioners raised questions about parking, septic systems, wells and the effect additional buildings could have on the appearance of residential neighborhoods. They also discussed consulting the fire marshal about the distance required between the main house and a detached apartment.

Schober is expected to submit proposed language for town staff and the town attorney to review. Commissioners discussed reviewing a draft in October, followed by a possible public hearing in November or December.

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