Bill > HB3054

This bill modifies West Virginia's zoning regulations by prohibiting municipalities from imposing larger minimum lot size requirements specifically for parcels with accessory dwelling units (ADUs). Accessory dwelling units are secondary residential units located on the same property as a primary home, such as a backyard cottage or basement apartment. The bill amends an existing section of law that outlines the contents and considerations for zoning ordinances, which previously detailed various aspects municipalities could regulate, such as land use, historic preservation, and design standards. By adding a new subsection (d) to the existing statute, the bill ensures that when a property owner wants to add an ADU to their land, the local zoning ordinance cannot mandate a larger lot size for that ADU compared to the minimum lot size required for other single-family homes or townhouses in the same zoning district. This provision aims to make it easier for property owners to create additional housing units and potentially increase housing density without being constrained by overly restrictive lot size requirements.