Eastham, MA


Eastham, MA Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Rules


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

What you need to know 

Eastham loves ADUs and thinks they can help them ease their housing crisis. As with many towns in the Cape they allow all kinds of ADUs by right!

Type of permit is required?

ADUs are only allowed in the following districts:

By Right:

District A (Residential), E (Residential/limited commercial), G (Water Resource Protection), Core Commercial, Transition Commercial, Office Residential, Limited Commercial

By Special Permit:

District F (seashore)

Not Allowed:

District B (Marina), H (Wellhead Protection), and Trade Park


ADU rules in Eastham:

  • Only one ADU is permitted on a single family lot.

  • The unit must be a fully separate living area with its own kitchen, bathroom and egress.

  • The ADU shall be clearly subordinate to the primary home.

  • An ADU shall be designed so that the property continues to look like a single family lot and the privacy of abutting properties is maintained.

  • The lot does not require a minimum acreage of buildable upland.

  • The Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) shall contain no more than two bedrooms.

  • The maximum size for an ADU is 1200 square feet or fifty percent of the site coverage of the principal dwelling, whichever is smaller. However, a Special Permit for an Accessory Dwelling Unit exceeding fifty percent site coverage rule can be issued.

  • At least one 1 off-street parking space is required for each Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU).

  • The ADU and primary residence cannot be sold separately or divided into separate entities.

  • Either the primary dwelling or the ADU must be occupied on a year-round basis. Short term rentals cannot occur in both units.

See the full text here: Zoning Ordinance Section VII C. Accessory Dwelling Units

Attached ADU, Convert Existing Space, Detached ADUGuest UserFriendliness score 10/10, Eastham, Massachusetts, Cape Cod