How ADUs Are Changing Affordability for Buyers in Anne Arundel County

Most buyers today are asking the wrong question.

They’re focused on: “What’s my monthly payment?”But the better question is: “How can this property work for me?”

That shift is where ADUs come in. In Anne Arundel County, accessory dwelling units are allowed in most residential zoning districts, with key limits: only one ADU per lot, it must be on the same lot as a single-family detached home, and it can be located inside the home, attached to it, over/in a garage, or in a detached structure. Detached ADUs are capped at the lesser of 800 square feet or 50% of the floor area of the main home, and the owner must occupy either the main house or the ADU.

That matters because today’s buyers aren’t just looking for a place to live — they’re looking for long-term affordability. A basement apartment, garage unit, or backyard ADU can help offset the mortgage, support family, or create future rental income. Anne Arundel County also removed the additional parking requirement for ADUs and eliminated the old 14,000-square-foot minimum lot requirement, making the concept more realistic for more homeowners.

This is the part buyers need to understand: an ADU is not just “extra space.” It is a strategy. In a market where inventory is tight, prices remain strong, and monthly payments are harder to swallow, the right property can help carry itself. Live in the main house and rent the ADU. Use it for family now and income later. Build flexibility into the property from day one.

Affordability today is not just about purchase price. It is about performance.

At A.R. Builders, Inc., we believe the smartest buyers are the ones thinking beyond the closing table. They are not just buying a home — they are buying a property that can work for them long-term.