FAQ Category: Missing Middle housing

The County seeks to preserve the quality of life present in its many single-family neighborhoods, while also exploring the addition of new housing types.  Our preliminary study shows that the County has more single-family units than the housing market demands, and that excess can be productively leveraged through the Missing Middle Housing Initiative. If new…

Please submit any questions/feedback to: MissingMiddleHousing@ppd.mncppc.org  

Missing Middle housing is market-rate housing that can be more affordable to middle-income households due to its lower construction costs. Missing Middle housing is not subsidized and does not have income restrictions. Due to its size and location, Missing Middle housing types can be leveraged by other County agencies and providers, to make it truly…

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are not part of the core Missing Middle housing types. But, like Missing Middle housing, ADUs can add housing options to existing single-family neighborhoods. In other counties, ADUs are regulated as small, self-contained units detached from a single-family home, attached above a garage, or within the primary structure. A single-family home…

Missing Middle housing uses existing neighborhood and other public infrastructure investments, such as the Purple Line, and can increase the number of households that have access to jobs and amenities. Through infill development, the County can preserve its natural environment by reducing sprawl. This development pattern supports walkable neighborhoods, which can reduce parking needs per…

Single-family zoning, restrictive covenants, financial institutions practices and federal policies have been used as tools for discriminatory policies in some jurisdictions that limited housing choices and worsened racial and economic disparity. The legacy of this history is a housing stock that does not meet the needs of many current and future residents. At the same…

Missing Middle housing is sometimes called “attainable housing,” which refers to housing within reach of middle-income households. There is a shortage of housing in the County that meets residents’ needs while fitting within their budgets. Missing Middle housing encourages construction of smaller, high-quality units—between 600 and 1,200 square feet. Because of their smaller sizes and…

Historical land use and development patterns have resulted in approximately 89 percent of all residential land being zoned exclusively for single-family housing. The upcoming Missing Middle Housing Study will evaluate County policies and ordinances that may need to be revised to allow and incentivize these new unit types in various locations.

In 2022, Prince George’s Planning Department will begin a study that will identify where Missing Middle housing can best meet the needs of County residents. In general, this housing works well as infill development in walkable neighborhoods, such as many of those in the Inner Beltway, with access to transit, jobs, and everyday needs.