Pelham, MA

Pelham, MA Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) Rules

City Acceptance Rating: 5/10 (10 is most accepting)

Pelham’s ADU rules differ per zoning district, so it is important to know which district your property is located in.

Detached ADUs are only allowed by Special Permit in its Village Center Districts.

Conversion of existing space or additions are only allowed by right in its Village Center Districts.

Act as a fully separate living unit with a kitchen, bathroom, and its own means of egress.
Only one accessory apartment is allowed per lot.
No more than three persons shall occupy the accessory apartment.
One of the two units must be owner occupied. When the owner(s) is not living on the property the ADU must remain vacant.
The ADU must be designed to match the character of the existing house and neighborhood. New entrances shall be located on the side or rear of the building.
The ADU shall be clearly subordinate to the primary dwelling.
The ADU cannot have more than two bedrooms and the maximum living area is 800 square feet or 1/3 of existing living space, whichever is less.
The lot must have at least three, permanent off-street parking spaces. These parking spaces shall be screened from road ways and adjacent or abutting properties with dense, hardy, evergreen plantings, earthen berms, walls or tight fence, complemented by evergreen plantings or other decorative elements.
The well and existing sewage disposal system must be reviewed by the board of health before a special construction permit is issued.
The Zoning Board of Appeals reserves the right to grant variance from these rules to encourage the development of housing units for disabled and handicapped individuals and persons with limited mobility.

See the full text here: Zoning Ordinance Section 5, 125-9.1 Accessory Apartments