Accessory dwelling units:

Provide homeowners with more options 

• Downsize while staying on your property and live in the ADU
• House a caretaker on your property
• House your children or parents
• Gain an extra source of income by renting out an ADU 

Provide less-expensive housing choices  

• Cost less than a new single-family home on a separate lot, thus provide options for low- and moderate-income residents
• Help seniors stay in their community and “age in place” by renting out their ADU or downsizing the living in it themselves
• Provide smaller housing option to meet the growing needs of empty nesters, smaller families, and young adults
• Help make it easier for people who work in Beverly to live in Beverly, including teachers, firefighters, and nurses (to name a few) 

Have a low impact on the environment and neighborhood 

• No development of open space
• No large, new construction projects
• No new infrastructure needed
• Gentle density designed and maintained by homeowners
• More compact, infill development promotes more walkable, car-lite neighborhoods  

Yes! There are at least 15 legally permitted ADUs in Beverly, and there may be many more unpermitted ADUs. Beverly’s current zoning is restrictive and prevents more ADUs from being legally developed. For example, the current zoning requires that residents of ADUs be family members of the residents who live in the primary home. After the homeowner or the ADU tenant moves, the kitchen in the ADU must be removed within 90 days.

Through the planning process, we will learn more about ADUs may help serve the housing demand in Beverly. Based on the data, there is demand:

• The cost of housing is out of reach, even for people who already live in Beverly.

• Demographic shifts are increasing the demand for more options for smaller housing. The majority of households in Beverly have 1 or 2 people (think: empty nesters, Millenials, small families). Only 35% of households have 3 or more people. ​(see slide 17 for a graphic)

Zoning is a set of local laws that regulate how land can be used and what type of development is permitted on each parcel. Beverly’s zoning ordinance, like most zoning laws, divides the city into different areas called zoning districts. Each zoning district allows for specific land uses and defines dimensions (such as height and minimum lot size) for all new buildings. Beverly’s zoning ordinance can be found here. 

The City recently adopted PlanBeverly: City of Beverly Comprehensive Plan, which outlines a vision for the future of Beverly, as well as goals and strategies for achieving that vision. According to PlanBeverly, one of the key issues facing Beverly is the need for greater housing diversity: “Local and regional demographic and market trends are driving overall population growth in Beverly, as well as a change in the composition of household types. This has led to an increasing need for a broad range of housing types and price points to accommodate changing household structures and the growing population without threatening overall affordability.”  

One tool in a whole toolbox of strategies to promote housing diversity is to encourage ADUs. Specifically, PlanBeverly recommended the following: “Allow the creation, through a special permit process, of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) by owner-occupants of single-family homes in all districts by modifying the existing ADU Ordinance.” 

The City’s Planning Department staff are leading this project, with guidance from a Steering Committee of Beverly residents, including a City Councilor, member of the Planning Board, staff of the Senior Center, member of the Beverly Affordable Housing Trust, and other knowledgeable community members. Please see below for the full list of Steering Committee members. 

In addition, the City is receiving technical assistance from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), the regional planning agency for the Boston metro area. The project is funded by a Planning Assistance Grant from the Governor’s Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs and a grant from MAPC. Ultimately, the updates to the zoning ordinance will be reviewed and voted on by the City Council. 

Most importantly, this project is dependent on your involvement! We look to Beverly’s communities to offer input so that the updated zoning best serves the needs of the public. 

2021 & Winter

Define goals

• Assemble Advisory Committee
• Analysis of past planning
• Tool development

Spring 2022 

Identify ADU options

• Public forum (Today!)
• Develop potential ADU policy options and scenarios
• Continue tool development

Draft ordinance

• Draft ordinance
• Present to Planning Board
• Public outreach digital campaign

Summer 2022 

Present ordinance for adoption

• City Council Vote

ADUs offer lower-cost rental options. However, ADUs are not the same thing as subsidized Affordable housing, which is restricted for the exclusive use of lower income households. It is possible to add requirements to ADUs to reduce their cost below market rate or to restrict the potential tenants based on income. However, those requirements are not necessary to allowing more ADUs.  

No. Air Bnb is a private company that offers short-term rentals. ADUs are secondary units on the same lot as a primary home. The intent for ADUs in Beverly is to provide a long-term housing option, and the City can consider limiting or completely prohibiting the use of ADUs for short-term rentals. 

Yes. About two-thirds of cities and towns in the Boston metro area (68 out of 101) allow ADUs. More specifically, as of 2018, 37 of them have more flexible ADU zoning that allow ADUs for non-family members. For example, Salem updated its ADU zoning just last year!