Council Passes Affordable Housing Bill

The Montgomery County Council approved legislation Tuesday designed to increase the supply of affordable housing.

The measure represents the first effort in 13 years to update the county’s rules for the moderately priced dwelling unit (MPDUs), adding tools to increase the number of homes that are affordable for families with moderate income.

“We know and understand the increased demand for affordable homes within the County,” said Councilmember Nancy Floreen, who introduced the legislation. The measure, she said “modernizes our MPDU program so it can provide even more affordable homes to meet our ongoing and growing demand.”

County law now requires 12.5 percent of housing developments to be MPDUs. In some master plans, which guide development, the council has determined that 15 percent is a more appropriate minimum requirement.

The bill adds flexibility to the county’s affordable housing program, removes obsolete provisions and provides several technical changes to the MPDU law, which was first passed in 1974

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