Episode Details

Can Massachusetts homeowners now build an accessory dwelling unit on their property?

In this special episode, originally recorded for Married to Real Estate at Westford Community Access Television, Mary Foerster and Mary McCauley interview Massachusetts State Representative James “Jim” Arciero about the state’s new accessory dwelling unit law and its potential impact on homeowners, families, municipalities, renters and real estate investors.

The Massachusetts Affordable Homes Act made qualifying accessory dwelling units available by right in single-family zoning districts. Under the statewide law, an ADU may be located within a home, attached to an existing residence or built as a detached structure on the same property. State law generally defines a qualifying ADU as being no larger than 900 square feet or half the gross floor area of the principal dwelling, whichever is smaller.

Representative Arciero explains why the state changed the previous approval system, how long special-permit processes could take, and why legislators viewed ADUs as one tool for addressing Massachusetts’ housing shortage.

The conversation also explores the people who may benefit most from ADUs, including:

• Older adults who want to age in place
• Families caring for relatives with disabilities
• Young adults struggling with housing affordability
• Homeowners seeking rental income
• Families interested in multigenerational living
• Investors looking for additional housing opportunities

Mary, Mary and Representative Arciero also address some of the more complicated questions surrounding ADUs, including septic capacity, local permitting, construction costs, public safety, neighborhood concerns, owner-occupancy requirements and the role of individual cities and towns.

Massachusetts began allowing qualifying ADUs by right statewide in February 2025 following the 2024 Affordable Homes Act.

In This Episode

• What qualifies as an accessory dwelling unit
• What “by right” means for Massachusetts homeowners
• Why the previous special-permit process created barriers
• Who may benefit from building an ADU
• How ADUs can support aging in place
• Housing options for family members with disabilities
• ADUs as potential sources of rental income
• How Massachusetts is responding to its housing shortage
• Attached, detached and interior ADU options
• The statewide 900-square-foot standard
• When a local special permit may still be required
• Septic system and Title 5 considerations
• Construction costs and financing resources
• Public-safety benefits of legal, permitted housing
• Community concerns about density and neighborhood character
• Commercial-to-residential property conversions
• The future of ADU construction across Massachusetts

Guest Bio

Massachusetts State Representative James “Jim” Arciero

James Arciero is the Massachusetts State Representative for the 2nd Middlesex District. He has served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives since 2009 and represents Westford, Littleton and part of Chelmsford.

Representative Arciero previously served as House Chair of the Joint Committee on Housing and played an important role in conversations surrounding housing production, accessory dwelling units and the Massachusetts Affordable Homes Act.

He is a graduate of Westford Academy and holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and a Master of Public Administration from Suffolk University.

About the Co-Hosts

Mary Foerster

Mary Foerster is a real estate professional and the host of Real Estate Connections, a podcast focused on real estate decisions, housing transitions, aging in place and the professionals who help people navigate important life and property changes.