IMPORTANT - LAW IN TRANSITION: As of mid-2026, ADUs are effectively NOT permitted in Prince George's County (communities like Accokeek, Fort Washington, Clinton, and Oxon Hill) - the County Council removed ADUs from the 2022 zoning rewrite before adoption. That is about to change: Maryland's 2025 statewide ADU Act (HB 1466/SB 891) requires the County to adopt an ADU-authorizing law by October 1, 2026, and County legislation is on track for final Council action around September 2026. This page tracks the transition; re-check after the ordinance is adopted.
Zoning & Size Requirements [1][2]
Yes — unincorporated Prince George's County allows ADUs. A detached ADU can typically be up to 2,026 sq ft under California state law and the County's zoning code.
| Where ADUs Are Allowed | None today - ADUs were removed from the 2022 Zoning Ordinance before adoption. The forthcoming law (state deadline Oct 1, 2026) must authorize ADUs on all land where a single-family detached dwelling is the primary unit |
| Max Size (Detached) | Not yet established - state law only requires the ADU be smaller than the primary dwelling; confirm the adopted standards with the County after fall 2026 |
| Max Size (Attached) | Not yet established (see above) |
| Max Size (JADU) | N/A - no JADU category in Maryland |
| Max Height | Not yet established - confirm with the County once the 2026 ordinance is adopted |
| Max Units | To be set by the County ordinance (the state mandate covers ADUs on single-family-detached lots) |
Setback & Parking Requirements [1][2]
Unincorporated Prince George's County requires a rear setback of about the required distance for a detached ADU, and one off-street parking space is required. Owner-occupancy is set by local rules (confirm with the County).
| Rear Setback | Not yet established; state law caps them - no setback may be required for conversions of existing accessory structures, and new-ADU setbacks may not exceed existing accessory-structure setbacks |
| Side Setback | Same state-law caps as rear; specifics pending the County ordinance |
| Front Setback | Not yet established - confirm with the County |
| Parking Required | State law caps local requirements: none within 0.75 mile of a mass-transit facility; at most 1 space elsewhere (more only after a formal parking study, with a mandatory waiver process) |
| Owner Occupancy | Undetermined - the state law is silent, so the County may choose to require it in the 2026 ordinance |
| Min Lot Size | State law bars requiring a lot larger than the zone's minimum for a primary dwelling |
Permit Process & Fees [3]
An ADU in unincorporated Prince George's County is approved ministerially (by-right) within Post-adoption: 90-day state deadline from a complete application. Currently: no timeline, because no permit type exists (County adoption anticipated September 2026); permit fees are Not yet published - DPIE fees will apply once the ADU permit type exists.
| Approval Process | No ADU permit pathway exists today. Once the local law is adopted, state law requires MINISTERIAL approval judged on objective criteria only - subjective compatibility or aesthetic denials are prohibited. Building permits will run through DPIE with M-NCPPC zoning review |
| Review Timeline | Post-adoption: 90-day state deadline from a complete application. Currently: no timeline, because no permit type exists (County adoption anticipated September 2026) |
| Permit Fees | Not yet published - DPIE fees will apply once the ADU permit type exists |
| Impact Fees | State law prohibits impact fees on ADUs under 750 sq ft; larger ADUs must be charged proportionally. No separate water/sewer connection may be required if the existing connection suffices |
| Plan Check | Standard DPIE plan review expected - details pending the 2026 ordinance |
| Pre-Approved Plans | None - no pre-approved ADU plan program exists in Prince George's County as of mid-2026 |
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Construction Costs [4]
Building an ADU in unincorporated Prince George's County typically costs $180,000-$350,000 (DC-metro market estimate - no county ADU cost history exists yet) ($200-$350 (market estimate) per sq ft); a garage conversion runs $100,000-$200,000 (market estimate, once permitted).
Construction costs in unincorporated Prince George's County mirror the surrounding Inland Empire market. Rural parcels can cost more due to septic, well, access, and fire-hazard (WUI) requirements, so treat these as planning ranges and get local bids.
| Average Build Cost | $180,000-$350,000 (DC-metro market estimate - no county ADU cost history exists yet) |
| Cost per Sq Ft | $200-$350 (market estimate) |
| Garage Conversion | $100,000-$200,000 (market estimate, once permitted) |
| Prefab ADU (Installed) | $140,000-$280,000 (market estimate, once permitted) |
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Rental Income Potential [5]
| Avg Rent (1 Bedroom) | $1,500-$1,900/mo (PG County market) |
| Avg Rent (2 Bedroom) | $1,800-$2,300/mo |
| Short-Term Rental | County STR licensing rules apply - confirm before planning |
| Est. Annual ROI | Not meaningful until ADUs are permitted - revisit after the 2026 ordinance |
Recent Law Changes
What's Changed Recently
- April 1, 2022: the new Zoning Ordinance took effect WITHOUT ADU provisions - the Council struck the drafted accessory-dwelling use before adoption, leaving ADUs unpermitted countywide
- September 2024 (published March 2025): the PG Planning Department ADU Whitepaper confirmed ADUs are not currently permitted and estimated ~119,000 county properties could host a detached ADU
- April 22, 2025: Maryland enacted HB 1466/SB 891 - the statewide ADU Act (effective Oct 1, 2025) requires every county to authorize ADUs on single-family-detached lots by October 1, 2026, with 90-day ministerial review, parking and setback caps, impact-fee limits, and HOA restrictions voided
- 2025-2026: the County Council's ADU Task Force (CR-091-2025) met from November 2025 through spring 2026 to shape the local law
- July 2026: the Planning Board unanimously endorsed the ADU Legislative Drafting Request (LDR-142-2026); final Council action is anticipated September 2026 ahead of the October 1 state deadline
Tips for Building an ADU in Unincorporated Prince George's County
- Do not start an ADU design in PG County yet - wait for the September/October 2026 ordinance so your plans match the adopted standards
- If your property is within 0.75 mile of a Metro or MARC station, state law bars any ADU parking requirement once ADUs are authorized
- HOA and covenant bans on ADUs are voided by the state law - a common PG County blocker disappears
- Sign up for County Council updates on LDR-142-2026 to know the moment the ordinance passes
ADU Builders in Prince George's County
Looking for an ADU builder in Prince George's County? ADU projects need a contractor experienced with local zoning, the permit process, and utility connections — not every general contractor has built one. We match Prince George's County homeowners with experienced local ADU contractors who provide free, no-obligation quotes. Getting at least three bids typically saves 20-40% on the same scope.
Cities Within Prince George's County
If your property is inside one of these incorporated cities, follow that city's ADU code — not the County rules above:
Sources & References
All data on this page is sourced from official government records and verified market data. View our full methodology.
- PG Planning Department - ADU Whitepaper (Sept 2024) Planning Department — Accessed 2026-07-08
- Maryland HB 1466 (2025) - enrolled text Government Data — Accessed 2026-07-08
- PG County Council - ADU Task Force (CR-091-2025) Planning Department — Accessed 2026-07-08
- Angi - ADU Construction Cost Data Market Data — Accessed 2026-07-08
- HUD Fair Market Rents Government Data — Accessed 2026-07-08
- Maryland Dept of Planning - ADU resources Government Data — Accessed 2026-07-08
Frequently Asked Questions
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