The "Home Opportunities Made Easier Act" is designed to tackle the housing affordability crisis faced by working families in Arkansas. It aims to alleviate the burdens of excessive zoning regulations that limit housing options, particularly for moderate-income workers who often struggle to afford homes. Key provisions include restrictions on local governments' ability to impose design requirements on dwelling units unless they are essential for public health and safety, and a mandate that if single-family homes are permitted, duplexes, triplexes, and quadplexes must also be allowed. The Act also facilitates the establishment of tiny homes and secondary dwelling units, streamlining their approval processes to enhance housing availability.

Additionally, the bill introduces amendments to existing laws regarding home occupations and local government regulations. It allows reasonable restrictions on home occupations to prevent nuisances but prohibits bans on inventory storage unless it poses a genuine safety risk. The legislation also ensures that local governments cannot impose excessive regulations on rental properties, such as limiting the number of units or rental durations. It emphasizes the rights of property owners, allowing them to challenge local government actions in court without first exhausting administrative remedies. Furthermore, the bill requires local governments to amend their zoning ordinances to align with these new provisions within twelve months and clarifies the definition of residential building design elements to include architectural style, preventing municipalities from regulating certain aesthetic features.

Statutes affected:
SB 456: 14-56-204(c)