On April 20, 2022, the results of a study regarding the Multifamily Affordable Dwelling Unit (ADU) Exemption will be presented to the Transportation and Land Use Committee (TLUC) of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors. This exemption currently applies to new proposals for multifamily apartment developments with four or more stories that also include elevators.
This study was directed by the Board at its June 2, 2020 meeting in order to determine the feasibility of deleting this ADU exemption, which may provide one potential way to increase the inventory of affordable housing and reduce unmet housing needs.
At the April 20 meeting, staff will seek initial thoughts and direction from TLUC regarding whether to carry forward the existing ADU exemption in the Zoning Ordinance Rewrite project.
Key findings of the study include the following:
- Eliminating the current exemption to the 6.25% ADU Program is financially feasible under the development scenarios analyzed and should not hinder ongoing development of multifamily apartment developments with four or more stories and elevators.
- In addition to the current ADU Program’s density bonus, the Board may want to consider offering a range of additional cost offset and incentive options to developers.
Currently, the County’s Affordable Dwelling Unit Program, which is part of the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance (Zoning Ordinance), requires new multifamily buildings to include 6.25% of the units as ADUs. However, the Zoning Ordinance exempts 100% residential multifamily buildings with four or more stories served by a common elevator (ADU exemption); such projects are not required to participate in the ADU Program.
For more information, including a link to sign up for updates on the Zoning Ordinance Rewrite process, visit loudoun.gov/zoningordinancerewrite.