Salisbury ADU Rules 2026: Proposed 75% Standard, Parking & Rental Debate

Salisbury is actively rewriting its accessory-dwelling rules for Maryland’s October 1, 2026 deadline, but the proposed 75% ADU standard should not yet be treated as enacted city law. The City’s existing code materials describe a much narrower “accessory apartment”: no more than one bedroom, generally limited to 500 gross square feet, and tied to owner occupancy. A June 2026 Planning Commission packet proposes replacing that framework with a broader ADU definition that would allow attached and detached units up to 75% of the primary detached house.

The first question is jurisdiction. A Salisbury mailing address does not always prove that a property is inside the City’s zoning boundary. Properties within Salisbury follow City zoning and permitting; properties outside the municipal boundary generally begin with Wicomico County. Use the Maryland ADU Jurisdiction Finder before relying on either rule set.

Current-rule snapshot reviewed September 16, 2026. Proposed provisions are not treated as law on this page. Confirm the controlling ordinance and effective date with Salisbury Infrastructure and Development before paying for plans. This guide is informational and is not legal, zoning, architectural, engineering or permitting advice.

Salisbury ADU rules at a glance

What applies under Salisbury’s existing accessory-apartment framework?

The City’s existing zoning materials define an accessory apartment as a dwelling unit with no more than one bedroom that is incorporated within a single-family dwelling or its accessory building. The definition also requires the owner to occupy either the accessory apartment or the principal dwelling.

Residential-district code materials published by Salisbury describe an accessory apartment of no more than 500 gross square feet within an owner-occupied single-family detached dwelling or accessory building. That is substantially more restrictive than the statewide ADU framework Salisbury must implement.

What Salisbury proposed in 2026

The June 11, 2026 Planning Commission packet explains that Salisbury must adopt a local ADU law by October 1, 2026. The working definition describes an ADU as a secondary dwelling on the same lot as a primary single-family detached home, subordinate to the primary use and no greater than 75% of the primary dwelling’s size.

The proposal would cover a separate detached structure or an addition attached to the primary home. The packet also states that the local law must authorize attached and detached ADUs, exclude the ADU from density calculations, and avoid setbacks more restrictive than the City’s existing standards for accessory structures.

Those points largely reflect the minimum structure of Maryland HB 1466. However, local governments retain authority over health, safety, building-code, infrastructure and other implementation issues. That is why the final Salisbury ordinance—not the planning memo alone—will control an application.

Will Salisbury’s limit increase from 500 square feet to the 75% rule?

That is the direction of the proposal, but homeowners should wait for the enacted text. Maryland defines an ADU as no greater than 75% of the primary detached dwelling. Salisbury’s June packet used that definition, which would replace the older flat 500-square-foot ceiling for qualifying projects.

The 75% calculation is not simply a backyard-footprint allowance. Applicants still need to satisfy setbacks, lot coverage, height, building code, utility capacity and any other site constraints. Use the Maryland ADU size guide to understand the statewide percentage before assuming the full calculated area is buildable.

What will Salisbury require for ADU parking?

Parking was still an open implementation issue in the June Planning Commission discussion. The packet specifically raised the additional impervious surface created by off-street parking, its relationship to stormwater management, and the need to account for variation in lot size.

That means homeowners should not design a parking pad—or assume none will be required—until the final ordinance and zoning interpretation are available. New paving can affect drainage and lot coverage even when the dwelling itself fits. Our Maryland ADU parking tracker explains why local parking details matter.

Will owner occupancy continue?

The current accessory-apartment definition requires the owner to live in either the main dwelling or the accessory unit. In the 2026 review, Salisbury staff recommended that policymakers consider retaining an owner-occupancy requirement.

“Consider” is the critical word. The staff recommendation does not prove that the final ordinance contains that requirement. Owners planning to live elsewhere should obtain the adopted text or written confirmation from the City before treating the property as an unrestricted two-unit investment.

Can a Salisbury ADU be used as an Airbnb or short-term rental?

The Planning Commission packet recommends considering a rule preventing ADUs from being used as short-term rentals. We did not treat that recommendation as enacted law. The final ordinance may adopt, revise or omit it.

Long-term rental eligibility, rental licensing, occupancy standards and short-term-rental use are separate questions from whether an ADU can be constructed. See our statewide guide to Maryland ADU rentals and Airbnb rules, then confirm Salisbury’s current local licensing requirements.

What permits will a Salisbury ADU need?

Salisbury states that a building permit is required for new buildings, additions, structural alterations, garage conversions, basement remodeling that changes the space, and other construction affecting a structure. An ADU may also require electrical, plumbing, mechanical and related reviews depending on the work.

The City’s Department of Infrastructure and Development handles the permit process. A zoning-compliant concept is not automatically construction-ready: building code, means of egress, fire separation, utilities, stormwater and site work can still change the design or cost. Use our Maryland permits-to-completion guide for the overall sequence.

Salisbury City rules are not the same as Wicomico County rules

Salisbury lies within Wicomico County, but the City administers its own zoning inside municipal boundaries. Wicomico County has already enacted Bill 2026-08 for areas under County zoning, with an October 19, 2026 effective date. That county enactment does not automatically become Salisbury’s city ordinance.

What Salisbury homeowners should do now

1. Confirm the property is actually inside Salisbury. Do not rely only on the mailing address.
2. Ask whether the final ADU ordinance has been enacted and is effective. Request the ordinance number or adopted text.
3. Do not design only to the proposed 75% maximum. Check setbacks, lot coverage, height and utility constraints first.
4. Ask how parking will be handled. Include stormwater and impervious-surface impacts.
5. Confirm owner-occupancy and rental rules. These were active policy questions during review.
6. Verify the permit sequence with Infrastructure and Development. Determine which zoning, building and trade approvals are required.
7. Re-check the law immediately before submitting plans. Salisbury is in a fast-moving transition period.

Primary sources used for this Salisbury guide

• Salisbury Planning Commission — June 11, 2026 packet
• Salisbury Planning Commission — February 12, 2026 code packet
• City of Salisbury — Ordinances
• City of Salisbury — Building Permit Guidelines and Procedures
• Maryland Department of Planning — HB 1466 ADU FAQ

Track enacted and proposed local changes in the Maryland County & City ADU Rules Tracker. Maryland ADU Guide is maintained by Gijo John as an independent research publication.