Lowell tops state’s list of approved ADUs

Massachusetts city Lowell has emerged as a leader in accessory dwelling unit approvals following the state's February 2025 Affordable Homes Act, which legalized ADUs by-right across the commonwealth.

The city has permitted 26 ADUs since the law took effect, placing it fourth statewide behind Plymouth with 34 approvals, Lawrence with 32, and Nantucket with 27.

Statewide, 217 communities have permitted or approved 1,224 ADUs under the new legislation.

The Massachusetts development offers insights for California property owners and developers navigating similar ADU regulations.

Like California's recent ADU reforms, Massachusetts removed restrictive local zoning barriers that previously limited homeowners' ability to add secondary units to their properties.

The approved units in Lowell include both attached and detached configurations, demonstrating the flexibility that by-right ADU policies can provide developers and homeowners.

Massachusetts officials cite ADUs as a practical solution for addressing housing shortages while allowing multigenerational living arrangements and providing affordable options for young professionals.

The state aims to produce 200,000 new housing units by 2030, with the Affordable Homes Act supporting over 65,000 new homes through various initiatives over five years.

For California stakeholders, Massachusetts' early results suggest that streamlined ADU approval processes can generate significant housing production when local zoning obstacles are removed at the state level.