01 / FAMILY
Keep family close
Explore a separate living space where parents or other relatives could have their own front door while remaining nearby.
Could an ADU make more room for what matters?
A little more independence for family. Extra space as life changes. Potential long-term rental income. Maryland's ADU framework has changed, but what is allowed depends on your county, zoning and property. UrbanKind helps homeowners in Montgomery and Prince George's counties understand the options before investing in design or construction.
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what we help with
Maryland ADUs: new possibilities, local rules.
Maryland adopted statewide legislation in 2025 requiring local governments to authorize accessory dwelling units (ADUs) by October 1, 2026. Montgomery County and Prince George's County have adopted their own zoning measures, with different requirements and effective dates. A property-specific zoning review can help identify the rules, limitations and next steps relevant to your idea.
WHY CONSIDER AN ADU?
More room for what matters.
An accessory dwelling unit can serve different purposes at different stages of life. The first step is understanding whether an ADU concept may work under the zoning rules for your property.
02 / FLEXIBILITY
Consider rental potential
A permitted ADU may offer a long-term rental opportunity. Zoning, occupancy, licensing and other requirements can affect its use.
03 / SPACE
Make room to grow
Consider an additional self-contained living space as household needs change, without automatically assuming a move is necessary.
These are possible uses, not guarantees. UrbanKind assesses zoning questions, not rental returns, accessibility design, construction costs or permit approval.
COMMON SITUATIONS
What kind of ADU might work on a property?
An ADU might be created inside a house, through the conversion of an existing structure, or as a new detached unit. Local zoning, building requirements and property conditions determine which concepts are worth exploring.
Detached Garages & Accessory Buildings
Have a garage, carriage house, or other structure that seems like it could become something more? We can look at the zoning and property conditions that may affect whether a conversion or expansion is possible.
Basements & Lower Levels
A basement can seem like an obvious place for a separate apartment, but there may be zoning and building considerations to sort through first. An early review can help identify the questions that matter before you start planning the space.
Rear Yards, Additions & New Structures
Thinking about building in the rear yard or adding onto an existing structure? We can look at things like setbacks, lot conditions, existing development, and zoning requirements to get a better sense of what may be realistic.
Attached Living Space & Interior Conversions
An addition or existing part of a home may be considered for a self-contained living unit. We can identify zoning questions to investigate before pursuing plans, permits or construction estimates.
MARYLAND HOMEOWNERS
One statewide framework. Different local rules.
UrbanKind currently offers these reviews for properties in Montgomery County and Prince George's County. The counties' ADU ordinances, effective dates, municipal requirements and permitting paths are not identical.
Montgomery County
We assess published local ADU zoning standards and relevant property conditions for the agreed concept.
Prince George's County
Prince George's County enacted a new ADU zoning ordinance with an effective date of November 16, 2026. We check the rules applicable to your property and the timing of any municipal or permit requirements.
Statewide authorization does not mean every property qualifies. Rules may differ within municipalities; building and rental requirements are separate from zoning eligibility. Maryland ADU law: Land Use §4-504.
before you invest
Explore the rules before paying for design.
An ADU idea may involve use rules, setbacks, height, lot coverage and other restrictions. Our reviews help you identify the zoning questions before commissioning drawings or construction estimates.
Choose a $295 Preliminary ADU Zoning Screen for an initial answer and next step, or a $950 ADU Property Zoning Review for a deeper assessment of one proposed ADU concept. Both are desktop reviews based on available records, not permit approvals or construction feasibility certifications.
TWO WAYS TO GET STARTED
Clear zoning guidance. A scope that fits your needs.
Both options are independent desktop zoning reviews of one agreed ADU concept, based on available public records. Neither is a construction feasibility study or a guarantee of approval.
START WITH THE ESSENTIALS
Preliminary ADU Zoning Screen
$295
A first look at the zoning rules and obvious questions affecting your idea.
- Review the property's zoning designation and published ADU use standards
- Identify key size, height and setback rules, without parcel-specific calculations
- Flag readily apparent issues or missing information
- Provide a 1–2 page PDF with a preliminary finding and one recommended next step
- One clarification email; target delivery in 3–5 business days after complete intake and payment
Not included: buildable-area calculations, detailed exception analysis, agency contact, customized permitting strategy or a meeting.
Ask about the $295 screenFOR A MORE DEVELOPED IDEA
ADU Property Zoning Review
$950
A focused property-specific analysis of one ADU concept and its likely zoning path.
- Review relevant zoning provisions, mapped issues and available property records
- Apply size, height, setbacks, lot coverage and parking rules where records allow reliable calculations
- Identify documented property restrictions and what remains unresolved
- Provide a typically 4–6 page written memorandum with sources and prioritized next steps
- One 20-minute review call and one consolidated clarification email; target delivery in 7–10 business days after complete intake and agreed initial payment
Not included: surveys, architectural test fits, engineering, agency confirmation, applications or permit management. Extra concepts require separate scope.
Ask about the $950 reviewA credit of up to $295 toward the full review may apply if you upgrade within 30 days for the same property and concept and the initial research remains reusable. Eligibility is confirmed before engagement. UrbanKind provides planning and zoning consulting, not legal, architectural or engineering services.
HOW IT WORKS
How to start your ADU zoning review
A straightforward process with a clearly defined scope before work begins.
1
Tell us about your property
Provide your property address and idea
2
We research and review
We assess published zoning standards and available property records within the selected service scope. The $950 review includes supported dimensional analysis where reliable records permit.
3
Receive your written findings
Receive a 1–2 page preliminary screen or a focused 4–6 page property zoning memorandum. Each identifies the main findings, limitations and recommended next steps.
4
Clarify the next step
The $295 screen includes one clarification email. The $950 review includes a 20-minute review call and one consolidated clarification email within seven days. Additional research or concepts require separate scope.
What the review includes
Choose the level of zoning review you need.
The $295 Preliminary ADU Zoning Screen identifies key published zoning requirements, readily apparent issues and a recommended next step, without parcel-specific calculations. The $950 ADU Property Zoning Review examines one agreed ADU concept, applies relevant dimensional rules where supported by reliable information and outlines a likely zoning and permitting path.
Published zoning standards
Both services review published ADU zoning requirements and available property records. The preliminary screen identifies key rules; the detailed review analyzes their application to one proposed concept.
Dimensional rules and property-specific issues
The $950 review includes supported calculations for size, height, setbacks, lot coverage and parking where records permit. Neither service includes a survey, test fit, engineering study or guarantee that the ADU can be built.
Written findings matched to your needs
Choose a 1–2 page preliminary PDF or a typically 4–6 page focused property zoning memorandum. Findings document sources, limitations and recommended next actions.
A practical next step, not a permit promise
The preliminary screen recommends an appropriate next step. The detailed review outlines a likely zoning and permitting sequence and relevant published licensing steps. Agency confirmation, permit management and specialist investigations are separate services.
Neither service includes design, engineering, surveys, legal advice, agency confirmation, utility or septic capacity analysis, permit applications or guarantees of approval.
why urbankind?
Planning guidance from someone who knows how the pieces fit together.
Your property may involve more than one set of rules, and understanding what matters isn’t always as simple as looking up the zoning.
UrbanKind is led by Brandice Elliott, AICP, an urban planner with more than 20 years of experience in local government, private land use practice, and consulting. Her work has included zoning and development review, entitlements, regulatory analysis, agency coordination, community engagement, and public hearings in Washington, D.C. and other jurisdictions.
That experience helps UrbanKind look beyond a single rule or requirement and focus on the questions most likely to affect your options and what makes sense to do next.
20+ Years of Planning Experience
Experience across local government, private land use practice, and consulting, with a practical understanding of how planning and zoning decisions get made.
Public + Private Sector Perspective
Experience reviewing projects from the government side and advising project teams from the private side brings a broader perspective to property-specific questions.
Practical, Property-Specific Guidance
Your review focuses on the rules and conditions that matter for your property and your idea, not a generic explanation of ADU requirements.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Questions homeowners often ask before starting an ADU project.
A review does not need to answer every design or construction question. It should help you understand what planning and zoning questions deserve attention before the project moves further ahead.
Is an ADU allowed on every property?
No. Maryland's statewide ADU framework does not make every property eligible for every type of unit. County zoning provisions, their effective dates, site restrictions, existing buildings and applicable municipal or permitting requirements may affect the options.
When should I talk with an architect or contractor?
Architects and contractors can be important partners in an ADU project. An early planning review can help you understand the zoning and property questions that may shape what you eventually ask them to design or price.
Do I need to know exactly what I want to build?
You need a general direction, such as a detached backyard structure, basement conversion or attached living space. Each paid review evaluates one agreed concept. A brief discovery conversation can help identify the appropriate next step, but is not a free zoning assessment.
Does the review guarantee I can build an ADU?
No. The review does not guarantee approval or replace later technical work. It helps you understand the early planning questions before larger commitments are made.
Could an ADU provide a separate home for an older relative?
Possibly. An ADU can be a way for relatives to live near one another while maintaining separate living space. Our review addresses published zoning and occupancy rules for one proposed concept; accessibility planning, care needs and construction design require other specialists.
Could an ADU create long-term rental income?
A permitted and properly licensed ADU may offer a long-term rental opportunity. Local zoning, owner-occupancy, rental licensing and other requirements can affect how a unit may be used. We review the relevant published rules, but do not forecast rental revenue or investment returns.
Could an ADU make room for a growing household without moving?
Potentially. An attached, converted or detached ADU may create a self-contained living space on the same property. We identify zoning questions for the proposed concept before you commission design work; an ADU is different from a conventional home addition.
Are the rules identical in Montgomery and Prince George's counties?
No. Both counties operate under Maryland's statewide ADU framework, but their local ordinances, effective dates and permitting requirements differ. Some municipalities may have additional requirements. Our assessment starts with the property's location and rules applicable at that time.
START WITH YOUR ADDRESS
Tell us what you're thinking about.
An ADU could support living space for relatives, additional household flexibility, or a possible long-term rental. Tell us about your Maryland property and idea so we can recommend an appropriate level of zoning review.
We start with a brief, no-cost conversation about the appropriate service and its scope. Property-specific zoning research is part of the paid review, not the initial inquiry.
Currently accepting inquiries for properties in Montgomery County and Prince George's County, Maryland. We check the applicable local rules and effective dates before agreeing on the scope of a review.
Request an ADU zoning review
Provide your address and the county where the property is located. We'll follow up to confirm your proposed ADU concept, the appropriate review and the next steps.
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