ADU Announcement: Massachusetts Introduces New ADU Support Programs — What Homeowners Should Know!

Now that Massachusetts’ by-right ADU law has been in place for about a year, a clear pattern has emerged. Homeowners love the idea of adding an ADU — the flexibility, the family benefits, the potential income — but many quickly discover the same challenge: building one isn’t exactly cheap. Even with a much simpler permitting process, the upfront design and construction costs can feel like a real hurdle.

That’s why this new statewide initiative from Governor Healey and Lt. Governor Driscoll is such encouraging news. It’s designed to directly address the biggest pain points homeowners have been running into, and it’s a meaningful step forward in making ADUs more realistic for more people.

What Was Announced?

On December 10, 2025, the state rolled out a three-part campaign to improve affordability and access for homeowners considering ADUs. This builds on the Affordable Homes Act, which made ADUs up to 900 sq. ft. legal “by-right” across all single-family zones beginning in February 2025.

Since then:

• Nearly 900 ADU applications were filed in the first six months

• Interest is strong, but cost and design complexity remain recurring stumbling blocks

  
  

These new programs are meant to remove exactly those obstacles.

1. Free ADU Designs Coming in 2026

The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities is launching an ADU Design Challenge on December 15.

Homeowners can expect:

• A library of free, high-quality ADU blueprints

• Professionally designed prototypes ready by next summer

• Reduced architectural costs — one of the biggest early expenses

  
  

Designers will receive awards of $10K–$20K, but the benefit for homeowners is access to plans without paying thousands upfront.

2. $10 Million in Technical Assistance

Through the Massachusetts Housing Partnership, the state is funding new support for homeowners who aren’t sure where to begin.

This will help with:

• Site planning and design questions

• Understanding what’s allowed

• Navigating the process step-by-step

• General education and outreach

  
  

It’s essentially a guidebook and support team rolled into one.

3. New Financing Support Through MassHousing

MassHousing is dedicating part of its $20M mission-oriented funding to make ADU construction more attainable. This targets the biggest remaining barrier: the cost of the build itself.

Why ADUs Are Getting So Much Attention

ADUs offer a versatile way to create housing without major developments — something that works well for:

• Multigenerational families

• Aging parents

• Local workforce housing

• Veterans and residents with disabilities

• Homeowners looking for extra living space or supplemental income

  
  

The state estimates 8,000–10,000 new ADUs could be added over the next five years with these supports in place.

If you’re curious whether your property qualifies or what these new programs might mean for your own ADU plans, I stay pretty close to the ADU landscape here in Massachusetts and can help walk you through the specifics when you’re ready.