Falls Church is eyeing possible changes to make it easier to build accessory dwelling units (ADUs).
The city, which has not granted an ADU permit since 2000, has released a draft framework for potential amendments to its zoning ordinance. Scheduled for a City Council vote in February, proposed changes would make it possible to build detached ADUs within city limits and would set dimensional standards for floor area, height and setbacks.
As Northern Virginia localities including Arlington have adopted changes to encourage the construction of ADUs, developers told ARLnow that they’ve seen a surge in interest and investment in recent years.
“It’s definitely something that people are interested in, given the high cost of housing in our area,” said Andy Moore, president of Arlington Designer Homes. “But it’s also housing, so there’s a high entry cost.”
In Arlington, where 22.3% of housing units are detached single-family homes, only four ADU projects were completed last year while nine projects began construction, according to the draft framework.
Alexandria, meanwhile, has approved 63 accessory dwellings since adopting looser legislation in 2021. Of these, 48 are detached ADUs.
Bob Gallagher, president of the architectural firm Sun Design, said ADUs — sometimes referred to as in-law suites or granny flats — are trending because they provide much-needed opportunities for more housing in an increasingly expensive Northern Virginia market.
Possible uses range from aging-in-place accommodations for seniors, to more affordable options for young professionals who may opt to split costs with family members.
ADUs could also provide a source of rent income for families.
“It’s pretty expensive to live in this area, so if you can have a way of doing it that allows for different folks to live closer to further support economic situations, that’s a great way to go,” Gallagher said.
About three quarters of Falls Church’s land area is zoned for detached single family homes. While no permitted ADUs are currently in use in Falls Church, a handful of home improvements and accessory structures “come close” to the city’s definition, the draft framework says.
Falls Church staff plan to host two public feedback meetings on the proposed framework. These will take place on:
- Wednesday, Sept. 25 from 6-8 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 300 Park Avenue
- Sunday, Sept. 29 from 2-4 p.m. in the Mary Riley Styles Public Library, 120 N. Virginia Avenue
If the city fails to approve proposed changes concerning ADUs, there’s a chance they could eventually come to Falls Church anyway. Proposed legislation for the Virginia General Assembly’s 2025 session would require localities to include ADUs as a “permitted accessory use” in residential zoning districts by July 2025.
