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 regulatory barriers that limit the construction of diverse housing types, thereby empowering individuals to utilize their properties more effectively. Key provisions include restrictions on local governments' ability to impose design requirements for dwelling units unless they are essential for public health and safety. The Act mandates that if zoning ordinances permit single-family homes, they must also allow for duplexes, triplexes, and quadplexes, while facilitating the establishment of secondary dwelling units and tiny homes without the need for permits.

Additionally, the bill introduces amendments to existing laws concerning home occupations and local government regulations. It allows for reasonable restrictions on home occupations to prevent nuisances but prohibits outright bans on storing inventory or using equipment unless it poses a genuine safety risk. The legislation also clarifies that local governments cannot prohibit residential uses in commercial zones or limit the number of rental dwellings. Importantly, it emphasizes that zoning ordinances must be closely tied to public safety and health, allows individuals to challenge local government actions in court without exhausting administrative remedies, and requires local governments to amend their zoning ordinances to align with the new regulations within twelve months.

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