The proposed bill amends section 9-461.18 of the Arizona Revised Statutes to update regulations regarding accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in municipalities. Currently, municipalities with a population of more than seventy-five thousand are required to adopt regulations allowing ADUs on lots where single-family dwellings are permitted. The bill removes the specific population threshold for municipalities and instead mandates that if a municipality's population exceeds seventy-five thousand based on the most recent U.S. decennial census, it must adopt the necessary regulations within six months. If it fails to do so, ADUs will automatically be allowed on all residentially zoned lots.

Additionally, the bill clarifies that the updated regulations apply specifically to municipalities with populations over seventy-five thousand and retains existing exemptions for certain land types, such as tribal land and areas near military or public airports. The definitions of "permitted use" and "restricted-affordable dwelling unit" are also revised to enhance clarity, changing "shall be" to "is" for the latter and updating the language regarding site plan conformity. Overall, the bill aims to streamline the process for municipalities to adopt ADU regulations while ensuring that these units are permitted in a timely manner following population growth.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 9-461.18