Burlington, VT Accessory Structures: ADU Rules (2026)

Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are apartments located within or on the same property as a single-family, owner-occupied home. ADUs are often located above a garage, in a basement, or as a backyard cottage, and have been utilized widely in cities across the US and here in Burlington as a tool for older adults to remain in their homes as they age, to create housing for an elder or a dependent, and provide homeowners with a way to offset housing costs. Summary of ADU Ordinance Changes from ZA-20-03 Accessory Dwelling Units adopted on February 18, 2020 Streamline permitting Creating an ADU no longer a primary reason for a project to go to DRB; Remove conditional use requirement for creating an ADU. Why: To ensure that no more stringent standards apply to an ADU than a new garage, provide predictability in permitting costs and timeline. Eliminate Parking Requirement No parking space required for an ADU, allow stacked parking for ADU's. Why: Eliminating the requirement enables an owner to determine if parking is needed or desired as it influences cost and other site constraints. Many lots cannot accommodate an additional parking space, effectively prohibiting them from building an ADU. Increase max ADU size 30% of gross floor area of primary home, or 900 sq. ft., whichever is greater. Why: Many single-family homes especially in older neighborhoods are small and would not be able to accommodate an ADU for the desired uses at the previous 30% standard. This change allows up to 900 sq. ft. for an ADU for all single-family homes. Provide additional lot coverage Up to 650 sq. ft. of lot area exempt from lot coverage limit if storm water impacts are mitigated.