Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in Melrose, MA
Melrose is among the Massachusetts communities that allow Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), and recent changes at the state level have made it even easier for homeowners to add one.
Here’s what you need to know about building an ADU in Melrose as of 2025.
What the State Allows: ADUs Under the Affordable Homes Act
In 2024, Massachusetts passed the Affordable Homes Act, a statewide housing reform bill that requires all cities and towns to allow at least one ADU by right on residential properties with up to four units.
Key provisions of the state law include:
ADUs allowed by right in all residential zoning districts for 1–4 unit properties
No special permit required if the ADU meets all zoning, dimensional, and design standards
No owner-occupancy requirement — even if a town previously required it
No parking requirements if the property is within 0.5 miles of public transit, including MBTA bus stops
Municipalities can impose reasonable regulations, but cannot prohibit ADUs that qualify as a "protected use"
A “protected use” ADU is one that fully complies with the state’s baseline requirements and is therefore shielded from additional local restrictions, including occupancy rules or discretionary permits.
Melrose’s Local ADU Policy
Melrose adopted a local ADU ordinance in 2022, prior to the Affordable Homes Act. The city allows a range of ADU types and continues to permit them today—although some parts of the local ordinance are now superseded by state law.
Melrose’s ordinance includes:
ADUs allowed by right on single-family residential lots
Maximum ADU size: 900 sq ft or 30% of the main home, whichever is less
Detached, attached, and interior ADUs all permitted
Setbacks for detached ADUs must follow accessory structure rules (typically 5 ft sides and rear)
One ADU allowed per lot
Previously, Melrose required that either the main house or ADU be owner-occupied, but this restriction is no longer enforceable under state law if the ADU meets “protected use” criteria.
Community Sentiment & Local Implementation
Melrose has taken a proactive and supportive approach toward ADUs. In adopting its ordinance before the state mandate, the city signaled an early commitment to expanding housing access. Local planning officials have emphasized the value of ADUs for seniors, caregivers, and downsizing homeowners.
Community discussions have generally focused on preserving neighborhood character through design standards, not resisting the addition of ADUs. Detached units, for example, are limited to 16 feet in height and must comply with rear and side setbacks—ensuring they remain in scale with surrounding homes.
City leadership continues to align Melrose’s ordinance with state law. That includes expected revisions to eliminate any remaining owner-occupancy or parking requirements for compliant ADUs.
Overall, sentiment in Melrose is broadly positive, with city planning documents and public commentary framing ADUs as a meaningful, neighborhood-compatible tool for addressing housing needs.
What This Means for Homeowners in Melrose
If you're a homeowner in Melrose, you now have clear, streamlined legal support to build an ADU—whether you're finishing a basement, converting a garage, or building new in your backyard.
If your proposed ADU:
Complies with local setbacks and dimensional standards
Is located on a 1–4 unit residential lot
Meets applicable building codes
...then it qualifies as a protected use under state law. That means you don’t need a special permit, you don’t need to live on the property, and you may not need to provide additional parking if you’re near public transit.
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