Shutesbury, MA

Shutesbury, MA Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Rules

City Acceptance Rating: 7/10 (10 is most accepting)

What you need to know:

Shutesbury revised its rules for Accessory Dwelling Units in 2008 to make it easier for homeowners to add an additional dwelling unit to their properties. The city sees ADUs as a great to way help increase density and create high quality housing without sacrificing the character of the town. Since the bylaw was approved, there have been many ADUs added to homes including at least one backyard home (detached ADU)!

Type of Permit Required:

Shutesbury allows both attached and detached ADUs by right with a site plan review by the Zoning Board of Appeals.

ADU rules in Shutebury:

• The property must have slightly more than 1 acre (45,000 SF, 1.03 acres).

• The primary home and proposed ADU must follow the district’s setback requirements.

• One of the two dwelling units must be owner occupied.

• An ADU can only be added to a single family property.

• No additional curb cuts can be created. Access to the ADU must be provided from an existing driveway or access road to the property.

See the full text here: Zoning Ordinance, Section: 4.4-2 Accessory Apartments