A place for in-laws? Chesterfield could make it free to add suites to residents’ homes

In this June 24, 2021 photo, lumber is piled at a housing construction site in Middleton, Mass. Rising costs and shortages of building materials and labor are rippling across the homebuilding industry, which accounted for nearly 12% of all U.S. home sales in July. Construction delays are common, prompting many builders to pump the brakes on the number of new homes they put up for sale. As building a new home gets more expensive, some of those costs are passed along to buyers. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

by: Allie Barefoot

Posted: Mar 23, 2023 / 08:21 AM EDT

Updated: Mar 23, 2023 / 08:21 AM EDT

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — It may soon be easier for family members in Chesterfield County to live in Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), also known as in-law suites, on single-family plots.

ADUs are add-on spaces above a garage or a cottage in the backyard that must have a kitchen and a bathroom to be considered an effective independent living space.

At a work session on March 21, County staff proposed reforming the current County Code on ADUs. The current regulation states anyone who wants to build an in-law suite on their property has to go through a troublesome zoning process, including a public hearing and a vote by the board of supervisors.

The proposal under consideration only wants residents to notify the County if they plan on adding an in-law suite to their yard with a few conditions on how to build one and who can live there.

To read more on the ADUs proposal, click BELOW: