By Tara Fischer

Staff Writer

(Sept. 3, 2026) Berlin officials will continue their work this month to establish a state-mandated policy authorizing the construction of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) on properties with single-family detached homes.

On Monday, Sept. 14, at 5 p.m., the Berlin Planning Commission, the mayor, and Town Council will meet for a work session to develop provisions for creating ADUs. The project follows a statewide law that supports the construction of ADUs and requires municipalities to create their own regulations by Oct. 1.

The idea behind the endeavor, which became law in 2025, is that accessory dwelling units —apartment-like structures detached from a property’s primary home — could provide additional affordable residency options.

The Town of Berlin began work on its ADU guidelines earlier this year. Officials had conducted a work session in February, joined by the mayor and Town Council and the community’s planning commission.

At that meeting, the group considered parking requirements, water and wastewater treatment consumption based on equivalent dwelling units (EDUs), short-term rental regulations, and size restrictions.

County government allows ADUs between 500 and 900 square feet. However, councilmember Shaneka Nichols said at the February work session that she would prefer for the town to reduce the maximum allowable dimensions.

“I think the part that’s hard for me is Worcester County … can be vast and huge … I think 900 square feet, that’s a decent size for a first house,” she said at the time. “That’s big…if you’re truly using it as an accessory unit, what do you need 900 square feet for? Unless it’s an income property.”

Nichols added that a more appropriate size for an ADU should land between 500 and 700 square feet.

Parking was also addressed at the winter work session. Planning Commission Chair Matt Stoehr said Berlin’s residential parking study is outdated and that the municipality should solicit new data before mandating extra parking spaces.

Berlin Mayor Zack Tyndall said a new parking study may be impractical, since only a few residents will likely build these accessory units on their properties.

Additionally, the group debated how ADUs would affect water and sewer capacity. Current town policy requires developers to pay an equivalent dwelling unit (EDU) fee of roughly $17,000 for new connections. Some suggested in February that this charge is too steep for smaller accessory spaces.

To address this concern, one option discussed was charging a fractional EDU or reviewing water usage annually and adjusting fees as needed.

February’s work session revealed that town officials agreed on several points: ADUs should not be used as short-term rentals, units should be within 100 feet of the main house, and they should match the style and height of the primary dwelling.

The Sept. 14 work session will begin at 5 p.m. A public hearing on Berlin’s nailed-down ADU regulations is subsequently scheduled for Monday, Sept. 28.