Eligibility
The submission guidelines specify only individuals practicing in Massachusetts are eligible to submit. How is ‘practicing in the state’ defined?
Individuals or teams submitting to the ADU Design Challenge must demonstrate a substantive professional connection to Massachusetts. This requirement is met only if the individual applicant — or at least one member of a design team — can provide a valid residential or business address within the state in their design application. Out of state individuals or firms, even if they include team members who hold a Massachusetts architectural license, do not meet this requirement unless they also maintain a Massachusetts residential or business address.
The submission guidelines specify submissions are welcome from architects, builders, designers, contractors, and design-build partnerships practicing in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. How is “Designer” defined?
“Designer” is intended to refer to individuals or teams who are established, practicing professionals within the design and building industries in Massachusetts. All individuals or teams submitting should be practicing professionals in a design related field such as but not limited to: architects, builders, or contractors.
Is the design challenge open to student designers?
No, students are not eligible to submit.
General Submission Questions
Once selected, will our name/logo be displayed on the final designs?
Yes, once selected, HLC will request winning designers and strong submissions to submit, if they choose, updated design boards with names and branding to be displayed at a public ceremony and on statewide promotion of winners.
Can a single person/firm submit multiple entries?
Yes, multiple entries may be submitted but a separate application, submitted through the ADU Design Competition portal website, is required for each ADU design.
How much does it cost to participate in the competition?
No application fee is required.
Technical Specifications
Is a site plan required?
A parcel specific site plan is not required for the ADU Design Challenge. Instead, applicants are required to submit a Site Plan Contextualization attachment as part of their Drawing Set where the applicant will demonstrate how the footprint of their ADU fits on one of three lot scenarios provided.
What is required for the Site Plan Contextualization attachment?
Please read the following requirements for the Site Plan Contextualization attachment carefully. You can download the template at Enter the Massachusetts ADU Design Challenge | Mass.gov in either DWG or PDF format. Select at least one of the three scenario parcels (7,000 sq ft, 10,000 sq ft, 22,500 sq ft) and demonstrate your design meets the following parameters:
- Principal dwelling footprint (is pre-defined and can be moved) falls within the required setbacks as defined by the black dotted line
- ADU footprint falls within the required setbacks as defined by the red dotted line.
- Illustrate the relationship between the ADU footprint and the principal dwelling footprint. ADU must be located a minimum of 10’-0” from the primary residence.
- While not required, designers may add additional site features such as but not limited to soft and hard landscaping features and parking.
Is it preferred for designers to demonstrate their ADU design footprint can fit on all three lot scenarios?
It is not required for the applicant to demonstrate that their ADU design footprint can fit on all three lot scenarios, only one parcel demonstration is required.
Does the site plan require parking?
Parking is not required for the Site Plan Contextualization attachment. While not required, designers may add additional features such as parking to their selected parcel.
Should fire protection to be a consideration for the design?
ADU Designs (floor plans, elevations, wall section) must comply with the State Building Code. A parcel specific site plan is not required, only a Site Plan Contextualization attachment. Designers must demonstrate their ADU footprint falls within the required setbacks as defined by the red dotted line, however, fire code considerations such as ADU distance from the street will not be evaluated and is not a requirement.
Does the primary residence need to be included in renderings beyond the footprint?
Yes, participants may share up to 10 images maximum, and should include at least one exterior, one interior, and one showing the relationship of the ADU to the principal dwelling.
What U-Factor is required for Skylights?
HLC issued a correction to the ADU Challenge Submission Guidelines on January 14th, 2026, to require a U factor of 0.55 for Skylights in alignment with the Massachusetts Stretch Code and not 0.30 as required in the previous version of the Submission Guidelines. Given this correction happened after the submission period began, no design will be penalized for a Skylight U factor of 0.30.
Can the ADU include a basement?
All ADU designs must comply with the State Building Code. Basements may be included in ADU Designs. Please note basements are included in the gross floor area calculation for the principal dwelling and/or protected use ADUs if they are compliant with ceiling height requirements pursuant to the state Building Code, pursuant to the ADU regulations. This includes basements that are unused and unfinished, so long as they are of compliant ceiling height.
Is there a height restriction for the ADU design?
All ADU designs must comply with the State Building Code. ADUs designs must not exceed 35 feet in height
Does the ADU design have to be accessible?
No, the ADU design is not required to be accessible. Applicants are encouraged to design their ADUs based on the Overall Scoring Criteria in the ADU Design Challenge Submission Guidelines. Designers that choose to design an accessible ADU should indicate on their application they wish to enter the accessibility subcategory.
Intellectual Property, Rights, Liability, and Legal Protections
Are we giving away rights to our design whether we win or not? Can we still build it later?
All submissions include an agreement to transfer title and intellectual property rights to the Commonwealth while retaining a "royalty-free, non-exclusive, and irrevocable license to reproduce, publish, and otherwise use and to authorize others to use" the designs. Nothing in the competition terms stops applicants from using the design in the future. Applicants could use the design themselves, use the design in their business including as part of services they charge for, selling authorization for others to use the design, etc.
Despite the fact that the applicant can use the design per the above, the state “owns” the submission and can use it for any lawful purpose. For example, the Commonwealth could make the design available to the public and allow it to be referenced, replicated, and modified into buildable plans without any further permission of the applicant.
Will there be a release of professional liability for designers who have no knowledge of site conditions, or any other similar protections?
At this time, there is no intention to include a release of professional liability for designers at the time of submission, or any other such releases. EOHLC intends to include disclaimers with any publication of designs submitted as part of the competition which emphasize that the designs are conceptual in nature and necessarily require modification, likely by a qualified professional, to make buildable plans with respect to a particular piece of real property.
If you have particular questions about the extent of potential professional liability, it may be advisable to contact the carrier of your professional liability insurance or seek competent legal counsel for advice.