Officials amend accessory dwelling rental bill

The Harford County Council on Tuesday added several amendments to a bill regulating small residences known as accessory dwelling units, prohibiting rentals of such units for a period of less than 30 days and reducing the maximum size of units to 1,200 square feet.

Prior to Tuesday’s meeting, the bill would have allowed accessory units to be either within, directly attached to, or on the lot of a single-family primary home.

The amendments approved Tuesday also removed the requirement that only a relative may occupy an accessory dwelling unit.

Although the bill would allow property owners to rent out the units, homeowners associations would still have the power to prohibit that.

Accessory dwelling units are small homes equipped with a kitchen, bathroom and sleeping area, sometimes converted from existing structures, such as a garage.

According to the bill, an accessory unit must follow applicable zoning and building code requirements, and the property owner must live on the property.

The original bill also states accessory units can have no more than two bedrooms and must be at least 300 square feet; however, on Tuesday the council also agreed to reduce the maximum size from 1,500 square feet to 1,200 square feet.

The approved amendments were packaged into one vote and were approved 4-2, with council President Patrick Vincenti, a Republican, abstaining.

Council members Aaron Penman and Jessica

Boyle-Tsottles, both Republicans, and Jacob Bennett and Dion Guthrie, both Democrats, voted to approve the amendments.

Council members Tony Giangiordano and James Reilly, both Republicans, voted against.

Vincenti said he decided to abstain from Tuesday’s vote due to the number of amendments added to the original bill.

“It seems like if the bill needs to have this much work done to it, that many amendments, it just speaks volumes to me,” Vincenti said.

“If this bill were to move forward or these amendments were to move forward this evening, I would have to abstain from the vote.”

During a Feb. 6 public hearing on the proposed bill, Penman, the lead sponsor, used a PowerPoint presentation to tout the advantages accessory units would have for Harford County’s senior residents. Specifically, the presentation addressed how accessory units can help older adults remain independent and age in place and can be used by caregivers.

“This is going to be needbased, predominantly for seniors,” Penman said.

Penman’s presentation also described how accessory units can generate rental income for homeowners, slow urban sprawl and increase property values.

Council member Giangiordano said accessory units would decrease residents’ property values and are not consistent with planned residential communities.

“Families have invested hundreds of thousands of dollars on their dream homes to be confronted with neighbor’s property being turned into rental units,” Giangiordano said.

Giangiordano has been vocal about his disapproval of accessory units.

He referenced Zillow research that stated home values grew the most in areas with the most restrictive land-use regulations.

The research did not specifically study Harford County.

“This is the main reason why I’m going to vote against the amendments, vote against the bill,” Giangiordano said.