The Prince William Board of County Supervisors discussed a proposed Affordable Dwelling Unit (ADU) Ordinance during their meeting on November 19, 2024. The ordinance aims to address housing affordability challenges by increasing the availability of affordable housing units within the county and implementing a Housing Trust Fund to bolster development efforts.
The ADU Ordinance would allow developers to include affordable units within new residential developments voluntarily. Although mandatory ADU policies exist in other jurisdictions, Prince William County cannot enforce such measures under Virginia state law. Instead, the county incentivizes developers to participate by offering benefits such as expedited permitting processes, reduced fees, and increased development flexibility.