Last researched: September 19, 2026. Chevy Chase View has already completed its 2026 ADU compliance update. The Town Council introduced Ordinance No. 105 on June 17 and adopted it on July 15, 2026. The ordinance was written specifically to bring the Town’s accessory-dwelling-unit setbacks and parking rules into compliance with Maryland’s new statewide law.
Homeowner takeaway: the biggest local change is that detached ADUs no longer use the Town’s old 15-ft side / 25-ft rear setbacks. Instead, they are brought into the same accessory-structure setback system as other detached accessory buildings, with additional setback required when the structure gets taller or longer. The 2026 ordinance also removes the Town’s extra ADU parking requirement and limits ADU size to less than 75% of the main building.
Chevy Chase View ADU planning snapshot
| Question | Current rule / status |
|---|---|
| 2026 ADU ordinance | Ordinance No. 105, introduced June 17 and adopted July 15, 2026. |
| Old detached-ADU setback | 15 ft side / 25 ft rear. |
| Other accessory structures under old code | 7 ft side / 7 ft rear. |
| 2026 setback change | Special ADU setbacks removed; detached ADUs use the accessory-structure setback framework. |
| Height/length modifier | Additional 1.5 ft of setback for accessory structures exceeding 15 ft in height and 24 ft in length, based on the Town’s June ordinance summary. |
| ADU size | Restricted to less than 75% of the main building under Ordinance 105. |
| ADU parking | Additional ADU parking requirement removed by the 2026 ordinance. |
| Town permit | A Chevy Chase View permit is required for ADU construction or conversion. |
| County permit | Montgomery County permit/zoning requirements still apply; Town approvals are separate. |
| Nonconforming structure | An ADU cannot be created in a nonconforming structure unless it meets current Town requirements at conversion. |
Ordinance 105 was adopted July 15, 2026
Chevy Chase View’s July 15 Town Council agenda listed “Adopt Ordinance #105 to meet State legislated ADU Requirements.” The Council then adopted Ordinance 105 by a 5-0 vote.
The ordinance had been introduced one month earlier, on June 17, after the Town Attorney summarized exactly what needed to change under Maryland HB 1466.
Why the Town had to change its detached-ADU setbacks
Before Ordinance 105, Chevy Chase View treated detached ADUs much more strictly than ordinary accessory structures.
The June 17 Council minutes list the old rules as:
- Detached ADU: 15-ft side setback and 25-ft rear setback.
- Other accessory structures: 7-ft side setback and 7-ft rear setback.
Maryland’s 2025 law says a municipality cannot impose side or rear ADU setbacks that are more restrictive than the setbacks that apply to other accessory structures such as garages and sheds.
That made Chevy Chase View’s old 15/25-ft detached-ADU rule incompatible with the new state framework.
The 2026 ordinance removes the special ADU setback penalty
The Council’s June ordinance summary says Ordinance 105:
- eliminates the special setback requirements for ADUs;
- uses an accessory-structure setback modifier based on height and length;
- removes the additional parking requirement for ADUs; and
- restricts ADUs to less than 75% of the main building.
For a detached ADU, the practical effect is that the project should now be evaluated under the same accessory-building setback framework used for other detached structures, not the old 15-ft/25-ft ADU rule.
The base accessory-building setback is 7 ft
Chevy Chase View’s pre-Ordinance-105 code used a 7-ft side and rear setback for ordinary accessory structures.
The 2026 ordinance process was designed to make detached ADUs use that ordinary accessory-structure approach rather than a separate harsher standard.
Ask the Town Permit Administrator for the current codified Section 13 setback text before drawing the final envelope, because the ordinance also adds height- and length-based modifiers.
Taller and longer accessory buildings need more setback
The June 17 Council minutes say the ordinance adds an additional setback modifier for accessory structures that exceed:
- 15 ft in height; and
- 24 ft in length.
For qualifying structures, the ordinance summary says an additional 1.5 ft of setback is required for each foot above the applicable height or length threshold.
That means a detached ADU can comply with the 7-ft base setback but still require more distance from the lot line if the design is tall or long.
The size rule now tracks Maryland’s 75% framework
Ordinance 105 restricts an ADU to less than 75% of the main building.
Maryland’s statewide framework defines an ADU as no greater than 75% of the primary single-family detached dwelling.
Before selecting a plan, ask Chevy Chase View and Montgomery County how “size of the main building” is measured for the specific application.
Use our Maryland ADU size guide to understand the statewide calculation before applying it locally.
The Town removed its extra ADU parking requirement
The June 17 ordinance summary says Ordinance 105 eliminates the Town’s additional parking requirement for ADUs.
That aligns with Maryland’s new parking framework. A local government that wants to impose additional off-street ADU parking must first complete the state-required parking study and must provide a waiver process.
A Chevy Chase View homeowner should still confirm the ordinary parking rules that apply to the main property and any Montgomery County requirements, but should not automatically add an extra Town-mandated ADU parking space based on the old code.
Chevy Chase View already approved a real basement ADU in 2026
The Town’s April 15, 2026 minutes document a building-permit application at 3814 Everett Street to convert a basement into an ADU.
The Town Permit Administrator reported that the submitted plans complied with Chevy Chase View’s applicable rules, and the Council conditionally approved the permit pending receipt of the corresponding Montgomery County permit.
This is a useful real-world example of the permit sequence:
- Town review and conditional approval;
- Montgomery County permit for the same work; and
- final Town permit issuance after County requirements are satisfied.
A Town permit is mandatory for ADU construction or conversion
Chevy Chase View’s current Municipal Code says it is unlawful to construct, alter or replace an ADU—or to convert part of an existing structure into an ADU—without a valid Town permit.
That Town permit requirement is separate from Montgomery County permitting.
For an ADU project, expect to coordinate:
- Town building permit;
- Montgomery County building/trade permits where required;
- site plan or boundary survey;
- zoning/setback review;
- stormwater or drainage review where applicable; and
- final inspections.
An old nonconforming garage cannot automatically become an ADU
Chevy Chase View’s current nonconformity section says an accessory dwelling unit may not be constructed within a nonconforming structure unless the building complies with the Town’s current Chapter 13 setback and other requirements at the time the ADU is created.
This is particularly important for older detached garages sitting too close to the property line.
A garage can be legally existing as a garage but still fail the conversion test for an ADU.
Private covenants can create another issue
Chevy Chase View’s original subdivision covenants include restrictions on outbuildings, including location in the rear of the property and a 5-ft sideline restriction.
The Town notes that these covenants are private restrictions rather than municipal ordinances. Maryland law now limits certain private restrictions that unreasonably prohibit ADUs, but enforceability can depend on the actual covenant language and current statute.
If a deed covenant appears to conflict with the ADU plan, obtain parcel-specific legal advice rather than assuming the covenant is either automatically enforceable or automatically void.
What to ask Chevy Chase View before paying for ADU plans
- Can I get the final signed Ordinance 105?
- What is the current codified side/rear setback formula for detached ADUs?
- What base setback applies to my structure?
- Does the 1.5-ft height modifier apply?
- Does the 1.5-ft length modifier apply?
- How does the Town calculate the 75% ADU size limit?
- Does the property have a nonconforming garage or accessory structure?
- Can that existing structure legally be converted?
- What Town permit package is required?
- Which Montgomery County building/trade permits must be obtained?
- What parking requirement applies after Ordinance 105?
- Do private covenants affect the parcel?
Chevy Chase View homeowner checklist
- Confirm the property is inside Chevy Chase View.
- Confirm Montgomery County’s current underlying ADU zoning/use rules.
- Obtain the Town’s current Ordinance 105 / codified setback text.
- Measure the proposed detached ADU height and length.
- Calculate the base setback plus any modifiers.
- Confirm the ADU is below the 75% size ceiling.
- If converting an existing structure, verify it conforms to current Town requirements.
- Prepare Town and County permit applications.
- Confirm the current parking rule.
- Check private covenants before construction.
- Do not order a prefab ADU until both Town and County approvals are clear.
Chevy Chase View ADU FAQs
Has Chevy Chase View adopted its 2026 ADU ordinance?
Yes. Ordinance No. 105 was introduced June 17, 2026 and adopted by the Town Council on July 15, 2026.
What is the detached ADU setback?
The old detached-ADU rule was 15 ft from the side and 25 ft from the rear. Ordinance 105 eliminated those special ADU setbacks and moved detached ADUs into the ordinary accessory-structure setback framework, which used a 7-ft side/rear base setback plus additional height/length modifiers.
How large can an ADU be?
Ordinance 105 restricts an ADU to less than 75% of the main building. Confirm the measurement method with the Town and Montgomery County before design.
Does Chevy Chase View require extra ADU parking?
Ordinance 105 eliminated the Town’s additional ADU parking requirement. Confirm the ordinary property-parking requirements and any Montgomery County rules that still apply.
Can I convert an old detached garage?
Not automatically. The Town Code says an ADU cannot be constructed within a nonconforming structure unless the structure meets current Town requirements when the ADU is created.
Do I need both Town and County permits?
Yes where Montgomery County permitting applies. Chevy Chase View requires its own Town permit, and the Town has conditionally approved ADU projects pending corresponding County permits.
Primary sources checked
- Chevy Chase View — June 17, 2026 Town Council minutes (Ordinance 105 introduction and rule summary)
- Chevy Chase View — July 15, 2026 Council agenda (Ordinance 105 adoption)
- Chevy Chase View — Agenda Center / 2026 meeting records
- Chevy Chase View — Municipal Code / ADU permit and nonconformity provisions
- Chevy Chase View — April 15, 2026 minutes (3814 Everett basement ADU approval)
- Maryland Department of Planning — HB 1466 ADU FAQ
Maryland ADU Guide is an independent research publication, not the Town of Chevy Chase View, Montgomery County, M-NCPPC, a law firm, architect or contractor. This page reports Ordinance 105 as introduced June 17 and adopted July 15, 2026, together with the Town’s current permit/nonconformity rules. Confirm the final codified setback formula and parcel-specific County/Town requirements before spending money on design or construction.
What to do next
Get the current Ordinance 105 setback formula before choosing a detached ADU footprint.
- Confirm the property is inside Chevy Chase View.
- Confirm Montgomery County’s current ADU zoning/use standards.
- Ask the Town Permit Administrator to calculate the current accessory-building setback for your proposed height and length.
- Continue to the Maryland ADU planning tools.
Planning guidance is not permit approval.