Stamford Will Look To Create Own Regulations For Accessory Apartments

STAMFORD, CT — The Stamford Zoning Board voted unanimously last week to direct the Land Use Bureau to draft regulations on Accessory Dwelling Units.

Public Act 21-29, a new law from the state, establishes default provisions that allow single-family homeowners to build or convert structures on their property into ADUs. Connecticut municipalities can opt out of the policy by Jan. 1, 2023, and establish their own regulations.

An ADU, also known as an accessory apartment or even "granny flat" or "in-law apartment," is classified as a separate unit located on the same lot of a principal dwelling unit of greater square footage, and also has cooking facilities.

These units can be detached or attached to another building, in the basement, above an existing garage, or even the garage itself.

Critics of the state policy have pointed to its impact on parking. The legislation restricts the parking requirement to no more than one parking space for each studio or one-bedroom dwelling unit, or more than two parking spaces for each dwelling unit with two or more bedrooms.

Under the legislation, accessory apartments are not required to be deemed as affordable housing, another point of contention for those opposed to the policy.

Stamford currently doesn't permit ADUs.

"Land Use Bureau Staff and I believe we should have our own ADU regulations, which would better fit Stamford's needs and would be narrower than what the state law has provided for," Zoning Board Chair David Stein said last week. "Our own regulations would not allow as many ADUs. It would be a little more tailored to the districts where it works better."

Should Stamford's own regulations pass, Stein said the city would then need to vote on whether to opt out of the state policy. The city would need a two-thirds vote from the Board of Representatives.

If Stamford opts out, they would join several other towns in the area. Greenwich is working towards opting out, and Darien also announced it would opt out and establish local regulations.