The U.S. Census Bureau is moving forward with a crucial preparatory step for the 2030 Census, seeking approval for an information collection effort aimed at accurately identifying Accessory Dwelling Units, or ADUs. This initiative, detailed in a May 6, 2026, Federal Register notice, highlights the agency's commitment to ensuring a complete and precise enumeration of the nation's housing stock, particularly challenging secondary units.
Understanding Accessory Dwelling Units and Census Challenges
Accessory Dwelling Units are smaller, self-contained residential units, either attached or detached, located on a property that also contains a main house. These units pose a unique challenge for census operations because they are not always represented on publicly available address lists or those maintained by the U.S. Postal Service. Ensuring a complete and accurate count of all housing units, including ADUs, is essential for fulfilling the constitutional mandate of the decennial census.
For the 2030 Census, the agency plans a multifaceted approach to enumerate people living in secondary units. This includes robust address frame maintenance, diverse enumeration methods such as self-response and in-field data collection, and targeted public promotion and outreach with local organizations. The 2026 Locate Address Test for Accessory Dwelling Units (LAT ADU) is a key component of this strategy.
The LAT ADU: A Targeted Test for Improved Accuracy
The 2026 LAT ADU was specifically designed to assess two critical aspects: the feasibility of obtaining ADU addresses through partnerships with local governments and the identification of potential challenges in locating ADUs during in-field census enumeration activities. The insights gained from this test will directly inform and refine two major 2030 Census operations: the Local Update of Census Addresses (LUCA) and the In-Field Enumeration (IFE).
LUCA is an address partnership program established by Congress through Public Law 103-430, the Census Address List Improvement Act of 1994, which allows local governments to review and update the Census Bureau's address lists. The IFE operation involves census field staff collecting responses in person. The LAT ADU will ensure these operations are better equipped to handle the complexities of ADU enumeration.
Methodology and Scope of the Test
The LAT ADU's local government outreach component was conducted in September 2025 under a separate clearance. The current notice pertains to the in-field activity, scheduled for September 2026. During this phase, Census Bureau employees will visit address locations with potential ADUs. These locations are situated within a 25-mile radius of the Census Bureau facilities in Suitland, Maryland, and the National Processing Center in Jeffersonville, Indiana. The ADU addresses to be visited were initially identified through local government collaborations and online address resources.
Upon visiting a site, Census Bureau employees will attempt to contact the residents of the main house. The purpose is to confirm the existence of an additional unit where someone lives or could live with the respondent. Employees will then document the results of this data collection activity. The Census Bureau estimates a maximum of 750 individuals will be contacted. Approximately 575 of these participants will be in areas around Suitland, Maryland, and 175 in areas near Jeffersonville, Indiana.
Participation in this test is mandatory and is estimated to take at most 5 minutes per respondent. This time allows for reading a confidentiality statement and answering a few questions regarding the presence, address, and location of any additional units on their property. The Census Bureau staff collecting this information will strictly uphold the confidentiality of all data under Title 13 U.S.C.
Regulatory Oversight and Public Input
This information collection request is being submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This process ensures federal agencies minimize the reporting burden on the public and justifies the need for collected information.
In line with these requirements, the Census Bureau is inviting the general public and other federal agencies to provide comments on this proposed information collection. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments, which can be submitted via the www.reginfo.gov website. Such public input is crucial for assessing the impact of information collection requirements and minimizing the public's reporting burden. The legal authority for this collection is derived from Title 13, Sections 141, 191, and 193.
Broader Implications for the 2030 Census and Beyond
The successful execution of the 2026 LAT ADU is critical for the overall accuracy and comprehensiveness of the 2030 Census. As housing trends evolve, with an increasing number of ADUs being built as a response to housing shortages and changing demographics, the ability to accurately enumerate these units becomes ever more important. A more precise count of ADUs contributes to a more complete demographic portrait of the nation.
This data directly impacts the equitable allocation of federal resources, the accurate apportionment of political representation, and informed urban planning decisions. The proactive steps taken by the Census Bureau through tests like the LAT ADU demonstrate a commitment to adapting its methodologies to contemporary housing patterns, ensuring the 2030 Census provides the most reliable data possible for the country's future.
