ADU Construction in Chevy Chase, MD — Accessory Dwelling Unit Contractor
Types of ADUs We Build in Chevy Chase, MD
Chevy Chase's 1900s–1940s Colonial Revival and Tudor homes, combined with the community's typically modest lot sizes relative to its home values, shape which ADU types are most practical here. Here is an honest assessment:
Basement ADU Conversion
Converting an existing basement into a legal ADU is the most practical path for most Chevy Chase properties — it adds no new footprint, requires no exterior modification visible from the primary street facade, and works within the existing structure of the historic home. Chevy Chase's Colonial Revival basements have specific characteristics — plaster or poured concrete foundations, ceiling heights ranging from 6'8" to 8'0" depending on construction era, and older systems in pre-1950 homes — that DMV-GC Group assesses honestly during the consultation. A well-executed Chevy Chase basement ADU can be a genuinely elegant unit that suits the character of the home above.
Carriage House / Garage Conversion ADU
Many of Chevy Chase's older homes have detached garages — sometimes built as true carriage houses — at the rear of the property. Where these structures have sufficient square footage and ceiling height, conversion to a studio or one-bedroom ADU is feasible. A rear-yard carriage house conversion has lower impact on the street-facing historic character than a front-facing addition. These ADUs often command premium rents in Chevy Chase given their detached character and often charming architectural proportions. Structural assessment of older carriage house framing is essential before design begins.
Attached In-Law Suite Addition
A new addition built onto the rear of the main home — separate entrance, bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen. More feasible on Chevy Chase's larger parcels, particularly in Chevy Chase Village and Martin's Additions where some homes sit on 10,000–15,000 sq ft lots. Additions in all five Chevy Chase villages must be designed to be architecturally compatible with the existing home's Colonial Revival or Tudor character — this is both a design standard and a permit review expectation. DMV-GC Group designs every Chevy Chase addition from the first draft to meet this standard.
Detached Backyard Cottage
New construction of a standalone ADU structure in the rear yard. Chevy Chase's lot sizes — typically 7,500–12,000 sq ft — combined with required setbacks make this the least common ADU type in the community. Where a property has a sufficiently deep rear yard and the relevant village's setback requirements can be met, a cottage is possible — but the existing carriage house conversion is almost always the more practical and cost-effective path where a detached structure is the goal. DMV-GC Group confirms feasibility during the consultation.
Chevy Chase's Five Incorporated Villages — Which One Governs Your Property?
This is the first and most critical question for any Chevy Chase ADU project. The five incorporated villages of Chevy Chase each have independent municipal governments and issue their own building permits. The unincorporated remainder of the Chevy Chase community uses Montgomery County DPS. Knowing which authority applies to your specific parcel — not just your mailing address — is non-negotiable before any permit work begins.
Chevy Chase Village
The largest and most prominent of the five incorporated villages — centered along Connecticut Avenue north of the DC line. The Village of Chevy Chase Village has its own government and issues building permits through its own office. Predominantly Colonial Revival and Tudor homes from the 1910s–1940s. Lot sizes of 9,000–15,000 sq ft on many streets. Basement ADUs and carriage house conversions are the dominant ADU types. Village review considers architectural compatibility for any exterior modification.
Town of Chevy Chase
Incorporated town with its own permit authority. Located in the central Chevy Chase area. Mix of Colonial Revival and Craftsman homes. Town plan review and inspection process separate from all other villages and from the county. DMV-GC Group manages Town of Chevy Chase permit submissions in-house for all ADU project types.
Village of Chevy Chase Section 3
Incorporated village with its own permit authority — distinct from both Chevy Chase Village and Section 5. Located along the western corridor of the Chevy Chase community. Similar Colonial Revival housing character. Village permits required for all construction within the Section 3 boundary. DMV-GC Group verifies Section 3 vs Section 5 vs unincorporated status for every applicable address.
Village of Chevy Chase Section 5
Incorporated village with its own permit authority — separate from Section 3 despite geographic adjacency. Village permits required. The Section numbering system creates regular confusion for contractors unfamiliar with Chevy Chase's municipal structure. DMV-GC Group uses parcel boundary data to confirm which Section — or county jurisdiction — applies to every Chevy Chase project.
Village of Martin's Additions
Incorporated village with its own permit authority. Located in the southern portion of the Chevy Chase community adjacent to the DC line. Some of the community's most elegant homes — larger lots, mature trees, and Colonial Revival architecture at its finest. Village plan review for exterior modifications. Basement ADUs with no exterior change have a more streamlined review path.
Unincorporated Chevy Chase
Areas with Chevy Chase mailing addresses that fall outside all five village boundaries — including Chevy Chase View and other areas — use Montgomery County DPS permits. These properties are often mistakenly filed as village permit projects. DMV-GC Group verifies county vs village jurisdiction using parcel boundary data for every Chevy Chase address before any application is filed.
ADU Construction in Chevy Chase's Historic Homes — What to Assess Before Designing
Chevy Chase's 1900s–1940s Colonial Revival and Tudor homes are architecturally exceptional — and they present specific construction realities for ADU projects that require honest pre-design assessment. DMV-GC Group addresses all of these during the free consultation.
🔧 Historic Home ADU Assessment — Chevy Chase Specific
- Foundation type and era: Homes built before 1920 in Chevy Chase commonly have rubble stone or early brick foundations — more porous than poured concrete and requiring interior moisture management. Homes from the 1920s–1940s more commonly have poured concrete or concrete block. The foundation type determines the moisture management approach for any basement ADU.
- Basement ceiling height: Chevy Chase basement ceiling heights vary meaningfully by construction era — 1910s–1920s homes often have 6'6"–7'4" heights, while 1930s–1940s construction more commonly reaches 7'4"–8'0". DMV-GC Group measures every square foot during the consultation. Areas below the 7-foot minimum cannot count as habitable ADU space.
- Plaster walls and ceilings: Chevy Chase's older homes typically have original plaster walls — not drywall. Plaster is heavier than drywall and requires different fastening for any work affecting the plaster on the floors above the ADU. Where the ADU ceiling is a plaster floor-ceiling assembly, the fire separation strategy must account for plaster's specific characteristics.
- Galvanized plumbing: Pre-1950 Chevy Chase homes frequently retain original or partial galvanized steel supply lines. DMV-GC Group's licensed plumbers assess supply line condition and water pressure during the consultation for every older Chevy Chase home — addressing any degraded galvanized lines before the ADU is designed for tenant use.
- Electrical panel capacity: Older Chevy Chase homes may have 100-amp or sub-100-amp panels. An ADU sub-panel requires adequate main panel capacity. Where the existing panel is at capacity, an upgrade is required before ADU electrical work is sized. DMV-GC Group's licensed electricians assess panel capacity during the consultation.
- Carriage house structural condition: Chevy Chase's older carriage houses and detached garages — built in the 1910s–1940s — may have deteriorated sill plates, under-sized framing, and foundation conditions that require structural attention before interior conversion. A structural assessment of any older Chevy Chase carriage house is essential before conversion design begins.
- Finish quality expectations: Chevy Chase homes are among the most valuable in Montgomery County. An ADU that looks incongruously low-quality relative to the main home reduces both rental appeal and property value. DMV-GC Group specifies finishes for Chevy Chase ADU projects appropriate to the premium position of these homes in the market.
Benefits of Building an ADU in Chevy Chase
Chevy Chase's location — straddling the DC line along Connecticut Avenue, walkable to Friendship Heights and Tenleytown Metro stations, minutes from Bethesda — creates one of the strongest ADU rental markets in all of Montgomery County.
Our ADU Construction Process in Chevy Chase
Free In-Home Consultation — Historic Home & Village Assessment
We visit your Chevy Chase home and assess all ADU options — basement ceiling height and foundation type, carriage house or garage dimensions and structural condition, lot size for addition potential. We also document the historic construction characteristics that affect scope and cost. No cost, no obligation.
Village Jurisdiction Verification
We confirm which of the five villages — or unincorporated Montgomery County — governs your specific Chevy Chase parcel using parcel boundary data. This single verification step is the most important preparatory action for any Chevy Chase ADU project and prevents the most costly permit mistakes in this community.
Historic Home Systems Assessment
Licensed plumbers assess galvanized supply line condition and water pressure. Licensed electricians assess main panel capacity. Foundation moisture conditions are evaluated. Any required pre-ADU remediation — plumbing replacement, electrical upgrade, moisture management — is designed and priced before ADU scope is finalized.
ADU Design Development
Our design team develops a floor plan within the confirmed constraints of your Chevy Chase home — ceiling heights, foundation type, entrance configuration, egress window siting away from primary street facades. For carriage house conversions, exterior design preserves the historic character of the original structure. For additions, exterior design is developed to be compatible with the Colonial Revival or Tudor character of the main home.
Village Permit Filing (Correct Authority)
We file all required permits with the correct village government — Chevy Chase Village, Town of Chevy Chase, Section 3, Section 5, or Martin's Additions — or with Montgomery County DPS for unincorporated properties. Our permit team manages all correspondence and inspection scheduling with the applicable authority throughout the project.
Pre-ADU Remediation + Construction
Any required plumbing, electrical, or moisture remediation is completed first. Then egress windows (sited rear/side), framing, mechanical rough-ins, insulation, drywall, flooring, kitchen, bathroom, and all finish work — at the premium quality level appropriate to Chevy Chase's market.
Village Inspections, COO & 1-Year Warranty
We manage all required inspections with the correct village or county authority and the Certificate of Occupancy process. After COO issuance, we conduct a thorough final walkthrough, address every punch list item, and activate your 1-year workmanship warranty.
ADU Construction Cost in Chevy Chase, MD
Here is a realistic cost breakdown for ADU construction in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Costs reflect the premium quality expected in this market and the construction complexity of historic homes:
| ADU Type | Typical Cost Range | Notes for Chevy Chase |
|---|---|---|
| Basement ADU Conversion | $85,000 – $145,000 | Includes moisture management, egress windows (rear/side siting), separate entrance, kitchen, bathroom, fire separation, village COO. Pre-1940 homes add 10–20% for systems remediation. Premium finishes throughout. |
| Carriage House / Garage Conversion ADU | $80,000 – $145,000 | Structural assessment of older framing required. Utility run distance from main house is primary variable. Exterior character of original structure preserved where possible. |
| Attached In-Law Suite Addition | $130,000 – $280,000 | Designed for compatibility with Colonial Revival or Tudor character. Village permit review for exterior modifications in all five villages. Rear-yard siting preferred. |
| Detached Backyard Cottage (where feasible) | $170,000 – $290,000 | Feasibility depends on rear yard depth after setbacks. Less common than carriage house conversion in Chevy Chase. Premium construction standard to match community. |
| Pre-ADU Systems Remediation | $6,000 – $30,000 | Galvanized plumbing replacement, electrical panel upgrade, foundation moisture management — assessed and priced separately before ADU construction begins. |
| Separate Electrical Meter (Pepco) | $2,500 – $5,000 | Recommended for rental ADUs. Pepco coordination included. Older homes with limited panel capacity may require panel upgrade before meter separation. |
What Chevy Chase Homeowners Say About DMV-GC Group
"Our 1928 Colonial in Chevy Chase Village needed a basement ADU. DMV-GC Group verified we needed Village permits — not county — before anything else. The stone foundation moisture was managed correctly, the egress window went in the rear, and the Village inspector passed everything on the first inspection. Renting at $2,300/month to a DC commuter."
"We converted our 1930s carriage house into a one-bedroom ADU. DMV-GC Group kept the original exterior — the board-and-batten siding and the old wooden doors on the front — and completely rebuilt the interior. The Martin's Additions Village permit process was handled entirely by their team. It's the most charming rental unit I've ever seen."
"Three contractors we called didn't know that our Section 3 address has its own village permit process. DMV-GC Group identified it immediately, filed with the correct Village authority, and we had no permit delays or corrections. That knowledge of the multi-village structure is genuinely rare — and it saved us significant time."
"The finish quality of our basement ADU genuinely matches the main house. DMV-GC Group understood from the first conversation that Chevy Chase homes have a standard — and they delivered it. The galvanized pipes were replaced, the moisture was managed, and the result is a beautiful apartment that we're proud to rent out."
⭐ 4.9-star rated with 97+ verified reviews. Chevy Chase homeowners trust DMV-GC Group for ADU projects that navigate the five-village permit complexity correctly, address historic home construction honestly, and deliver the premium quality that this community's exceptional homes deserve.
Serving All Chevy Chase, MD Communities for ADU Construction
Also serving Bethesda, MD — directly west of Chevy Chase
DMV-GC Group builds ADUs throughout Bethesda, which borders Chevy Chase to the west and shares a similar premium market position and Colonial Revival housing stock. View our full ADU construction service page →