Middletown City Zoning Code
ARTICLE 16
ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT
§ 1600 PURPOSE.
The purpose of this subchapter is to allow accessory dwelling units (ADU) as a permitted use throughout the town subject to the limitations specified in this article, and without converting a principal single-family dwelling into a two- family dwelling.
(Ord. passed 10-30-06; Am. Ord. 2025-8, passed 2-18-25)
§ 1601 REQUIREMENTS.
(A) An ADU that meets the requirements of R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 45-24-31 and 45-24-73(a) shall be a permitted use in all residential zoning districts subject to the limitations specified in this article. An ADU which meets the requirements of R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 45-24-31 and 45-24-73(a) shall be permitted through an administrative building permit process only.
(B) One ADU per lot in a residential zoning district shall be allowed by right under the following circumstances:
(1) On an owner-occupied property as a reasonable accommodation for family members with disabilities;
(2) On a lot with a total lot area of 20,000 square feet or more for which the primary use is residential;
(3) Where the proposed ADU is located within the existing footprint of the primary residential structure or existing accessory attached or detached structure and does not expand the footprint of the structure;
(4) An ADU shall contain no more than two bedrooms.
(C) A studio or one-bedroom ADU shall not be greater than 900 square feet floor area, or 60% of the floor area of the resulting principal dwelling unit on the subject lot, whichever is less; and a two-bedroom ADU shall not be greater than 1,200 square feet floor area, or 60% of the floor area of the resulting principal dwelling unit on the subject lot, whichever is less.
(D) The dimensional requirements for a standalone ADU shall be those applied to an accessory structure within the subject zoning district.
(E) A standalone ADU contained within a newly constructed structure shall not be located in the front yard, which is the portion of the lot between the principal dwelling structure and a street.
(F) Zoning dimensional relief shall not be required for an ADU proposed within the existing footprint of the primary or accessory structure which is a legal nonconforming structure.
(G) One off-street parking space shall be required for each ADU bedroom in addition to the number of spaces required by this chapter for the other uses on the lot.
(Ord. passed 10-30-06; Am. Ord. 2025-8, passed 2-18-25)
§ 1602 OTHER PROVISIONS.
(A) An application for an ADU which is not allowed by right under this section, shall not, by itself be reviewed as a minor land development or major land development project.
(B) ADUs are allowed as part of applications for new primary dwelling units or subdivisions. For proposed ADUs that are part of a larger development proposal, the ADU shall not count toward the density of the proposal for purposes of limiting the number of dwelling units allowed in such development proposal.
(C) ADUs shall not be offered or rented for short-term, tourist or transient use or through a hosting platform, as such terms are defined in R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-63.1-2.
(Ord. passed 10-30-06; Am. Ord. 2025-8, passed 2-18-25)