The Summit County government is poised to roll out a new program that would pay homeowners in unincorporated parts of the county to create accessory dwelling units. 

These units serve as add-ons to a primary home and can either be attached, such as a loft, or a stand-alone unit that sits on the property.

Eyeing the units as a way to boost the county’s affordable housing supply, county leaders have approved $500,000 to subsidize future unit conversion and construction. 

According to a project memo discussed during a July 25 Summit Board of County Commissioners meeting, $400,000 will be reserved for new accessory dwelling unit construction. The county will provide tens of thousands of dollars to individual homeowners who build the units and rent them to residents who work in the county and make below a certain income threshold.  

“I think it goes back to this multipronged approach of all the different strategies for workforce housing and just showing that this is another one that we’re employing,” said Commissioner Elisabeth Lawrence. 

Specifically, the program will provide: 

• 25% of the project cost up to $40,000 for a studio unit, $50,000 for a one-bedroom unit and $60,000 for a two-bedroom unit, with a rental cap of 110% of the area median income. According to 2023 figures, that would translate to $85,360 for an individual and $121,880 for a family of four. 
• 25% of the project cost up to $35,000 to convert an existing unfinished space with a rental cap of 110% of the median income.
• 25% of the project cost up to $30,000 for an existing finished space with a rental cap of 110% of the median income.
• 25% of the construction costs up to $25,000 for owners of noncompliant accessory dwelling units to bring their units into compliance.
• If each unit has a rental cap below 110% of median income, up to 40% of the project cost could be covered for each construction category, though the cost limits for each project type would still apply.

According to a previous memo prepared by housing director Jason Dietz and building official Don Bantam, conversion and construction costs for accessory dwelling units range from $90 to $600 per square foot, with the average unit being just over 800 square feet. 

County housing officials said they could open applications for the funding within the next three weeks, with Bantman adding, “There is already an interested list.”

As county leaders prepare to market the program to area homeowners, they said it will be crucial to promote the work that’s been done to streamline the accessory dwelling unit process. 

Commissioner Josh Blanchard said that, until recently, receiving a permit for and building an accessory dwelling unit has been mired in red tape, often frustrating residents who eventually give up on the process.

County commissioners have sought to mitigate barriers to construction and conversion through code changes, with most homeowners now able to have an accessory dwelling unit through use-by-right, which removes the need to rezone a parcel. Officials said they see this new subsidy program as the next step in that endeavor. 

“I think some people still have some resistance or maybe past negative experiences around it,” Blanchard said. “I think this is a great opportunity for a reset.”