Millington MD ADU Rules 2026: 60% / 1,000 Sq Ft Cap, Parking & Two-County Permit Check

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Last researched: September 19, 2026. Millington has one of the clearest municipal ADU sections we have found on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The Town’s zoning ordinance document labeled amended July 24, 2025 includes § 80-72, “Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs),” and expressly allows ADUs to be created by converting existing living space, adding onto the primary dwelling, constructing a stand-alone unit, or converting/expanding an accessory building such as a garage.

Homeowner takeaway: Millington already has a broad local ADU framework, but one major provision needs a 2026 check. The posted ordinance caps an ADU at 60% of the living area of the principal dwelling or 1,000 square feet, whichever is less. Maryland Planning now says covered jurisdictions may not impose an ADU size ceiling below the state’s 75% limit. Before buying plans, ask Millington whether § 80-72 has been amended again for HB 1466 compliance.

Millington ADU planning snapshot

Question What we verified
Current public ADU section § 80-72, “Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs),” appears in the zoning ordinance document labeled amended July 24, 2025.
One ADU per lot The section allows no more than one ADU per lot where permitted.
Primary-home requirement The ADU must be on the same lot as a detached single-family dwelling.
ADU types expressly contemplated Internal conversion, addition to the existing dwelling, stand-alone construction, and addition to or conversion of an accessory building.
District table The July 2025 use table lists ADUs as permitted in AG, R-1, R-2, R-3 and TC; the table does not list them as permitted in LI.
Local size rule No more than 60% of the living area of the principal dwelling or 1,000 sq ft, whichever is less.
2026 state-law issue Maryland Planning says a covered jurisdiction may not cap an ADU below 75% of the size of the primary detached dwelling.
Parking No extra space if on-street parking is permitted and adequate; otherwise one additional space within 100 ft can be required in the situations listed by § 80-72.
Town geography Millington lies in both Kent County and Queen Anne’s County.
Current Town website The Town website is under construction and directs residents to contact the Town Office for current notices, forms, permits and meeting information.

Millington substantially rewrote its ADU rule in 2025

The change between two Town zoning documents is important. A version labeled amended June 17, 2025 still used the older heading “Accessory Apartment”. That version limited the use to an internal conversion of a detached house, treated it as a special exception in R-1 and R-2, imposed owner occupancy, prohibited garage conversion and generally limited the second unit to 500 square feet.

The later zoning document labeled amended July 24, 2025 uses a different § 80-72 titled “Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)”. Its opening provisions are materially broader: the section recognizes internal conversions, additions, stand-alone units and conversion or expansion of accessory buildings.

That makes the July 2025 document the more relevant public zoning source for a current Millington ADU discussion. The older June language is still useful for understanding why outdated summaries of Millington may incorrectly say ADUs are internal-only or limited to 500 square feet.

The July 2025 use table permits ADUs in five zoning districts

The amended zoning table lists “Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU)” as permitted in:

  • AG;
  • R-1;
  • R-2;
  • R-3; and
  • TC.

The same table does not mark the use as permitted in the LI district.

A district-table entry does not eliminate the rest of § 80-72. The lot still needs a detached single-family dwelling, the project must comply with the ADU design standards, and other zoning, building, utility and health requirements can still apply.

Millington allows four basic ways to create an ADU

The July 2025 § 80-72 expressly identifies four creation methods:

  1. convert existing living area, an attic or basement;
  2. add floor area to the existing dwelling;
  3. construct a stand-alone ADU; or
  4. add onto or repurpose an existing accessory building, including a garage-type conversion.

That is much broader than Millington’s older accessory-apartment rule and makes the Town relevant to homeowners considering both attached and detached layouts.

Before selecting a floor plan, use our Maryland ADU floor-plan guide to compare common sizes, then verify the legal maximum for the particular Millington parcel.

The 60% / 1,000 sq ft cap is the main 2026 compliance question

Millington’s July 2025 § 80-72 says the size of an ADU may be no more than 60% of the living area of the principal dwelling or 1,000 square feet, whichever is less.

Maryland’s statewide ADU definition is now broader. The Maryland Department of Planning says an ADU may be up to 75% of the size of its primary single-family detached dwelling and that jurisdictions required to authorize ADUs may not limit ADU size below that 75% threshold.

The difference is substantial. For a 1,600-square-foot primary dwelling:

  • 60% equals 960 square feet;
  • 75% equals 1,200 square feet.

Millington’s additional 1,000-square-foot absolute ceiling can create an even larger difference for bigger houses. On a 2,000-square-foot primary dwelling, the posted local formula would stop at 1,000 square feet, while 75% is 1,500 square feet.

That does not mean a homeowner is guaranteed approval for a 1,500-square-foot unit. It means Millington’s posted 60% / 1,000-square-foot ceiling should be checked against any later HB 1466 amendment before it is used as the final legal maximum.

Our Maryland ADU size guide explains the statewide 75% rule and the measurement issue that homeowners should confirm locally.

Millington’s parking rule is more nuanced than a flat extra-space requirement

The July 2025 ADU section says no additional parking space is required where on-street parking is permitted and adequate.

The section then provides for one additional parking space located on the lot or within 100 feet of it when:

  • none of the roadways on abutting streets can accommodate on-street parking; or
  • the ADU is created at the same time as the principal dwelling.

Maryland’s 2026 framework adds another layer. A local law that imposes additional off-street parking requirements on ADUs must be supported by the parking study required by state law and must include a waiver process.

Ask Millington whether its July 2025 parking language is being retained as written, whether the required state parking study has been completed, and what waiver procedure applies to a current ADU application.

Millington spans two counties

Millington is unusual because the incorporated Town lies in both Kent County and Queen Anne’s County. Maryland’s current municipal directory identifies it under both counties, and the Town’s comprehensive plan describes Millington as being in southeastern Kent County and northwestern Queen Anne’s County.

For zoning, start with the Town of Millington. But county-level functions such as environmental health, septic, building administration or other permit coordination may depend on which side of the county line the parcel occupies. Do not assume that every Millington address uses Kent County offices simply because much of the Town is associated with Kent County.

If you are comparing rules outside Town limits, use the relevant county guide: Kent County ADU Rules or Queen Anne’s County ADU Rules.

The Town website is currently under construction

As of September 19, 2026, Millington’s homepage states that its new website is under construction. The Town specifically tells residents who need meeting agendas, minutes, public notices, forms, permits or other Town information to contact the Town Office directly.

That affects how confidently we can describe post-July-2025 amendments. I found the July 24, 2025 amended zoning document through the Town’s public web materials and searched for a later 2026 ADU zoning amendment, but did not find a later publicly indexed ADU ordinance during this research pass.

That is not proof that no newer action has occurred. Because the Town itself says current records should be requested directly while the website is being rebuilt, homeowners should ask staff whether § 80-72 has been amended since the posted July 2025 version.

What to ask Millington before paying for plans

  • Is the July 24, 2025 version of § 80-72 still the current ADU section?
  • Has the 60% / 1,000-square-foot maximum been amended for HB 1466 compliance?
  • What size-measurement method does the Town currently use?
  • Which zoning district is the parcel in?
  • Are internal, attached, stand-alone and accessory-building ADUs all allowed on that parcel?
  • What setbacks apply to a stand-alone ADU?
  • What height and lot-coverage standards apply?
  • Does the current ordinance contain an owner-occupancy requirement?
  • What parking rule and waiver process currently apply?
  • Has the Town completed the parking study required if additional off-street parking is imposed?
  • Is the parcel in the Kent County or Queen Anne’s County portion of Millington?
  • Which county agency handles any building, health, septic or related review after Town zoning?
  • What Town application, site plan and permit fees are currently required?

Millington homeowner checklist

  1. Confirm the parcel is inside Millington municipal limits.
  2. Determine whether it lies in Kent County or Queen Anne’s County.
  3. Confirm the zoning district.
  4. Ask the Town for the current version of § 80-72.
  5. Verify whether the 60% / 1,000-square-foot limit has been superseded.
  6. Choose the ADU type: internal, attached, stand-alone or accessory-building conversion.
  7. Verify setbacks, height and lot coverage.
  8. Confirm current parking requirements and the waiver process.
  9. Check water/sewer or septic capacity as applicable.
  10. Prepare a survey or scaled site plan before final design.
  11. Confirm which county-level permits apply based on the parcel’s county.
  12. Do not make a non-refundable prefab or construction commitment until the Town confirms the current rules.

Millington MD ADU FAQs

Does Millington allow detached ADUs?

The zoning ordinance document labeled amended July 24, 2025 expressly lists construction of a stand-alone unit as one way an ADU may be created. Parcel zoning and the rest of the current ADU standards still need to be confirmed.

Can I convert a garage into an ADU in Millington?

The July 2025 § 80-72 says an ADU may be created by adding onto or repurposing an existing accessory building and specifically gives an apartment in an existing garage or conversion of an accessory building as examples.

What is Millington’s ADU size limit?

The posted July 2025 rule says no more than 60% of the living area of the principal dwelling or 1,000 square feet, whichever is less. Maryland Planning now says covered jurisdictions may not impose a local ADU maximum below the state’s 75% threshold, so ask the Town whether the local cap has been amended.

Does Millington require extra ADU parking?

Not in every case. The July 2025 rule says no additional space is required when on-street parking is permitted and adequate. One extra space within 100 feet can be required in the situations identified by the ordinance. Confirm the Town’s current parking study and waiver process under Maryland’s 2026 requirements.

Is Millington in Kent County or Queen Anne’s County?

Both. The incorporated Town spans Kent and Queen Anne’s Counties. Confirm which county the parcel is in because some county-level permitting or health functions can depend on the parcel location.

Who should I contact about a Millington ADU?

Start with the Millington Town Office at 402 Cypress Street, Millington, Maryland 21651. The Town currently lists 410-928-3880 and states that residents should contact the office directly for current permits, forms, public notices and other Town information while its new website is under construction.

Primary sources checked

Maryland ADU Guide is an independent research publication, not the Town of Millington, Kent County, Queen Anne’s County, a law firm, architect or contractor. The Town website is under reconstruction as of this review, so request the current zoning text and permit requirements directly from Town Hall before spending money on design or construction.

YOUR NEXT PRACTICAL STEP

What to do next

Confirm the current § 80-72 text and which county the parcel is in before finalizing an ADU size or permit path.

  1. Confirm who reviews the property.
  2. Ask Millington whether the July 2025 ADU rule has been amended.
  3. Gather your zoning district, survey, utility and county information.
  4. Continue to the Maryland ADU planning tools.

Planning guidance is not permit approval.