Tempe City Council moved forward with approving its two proposed code text amendments so city regulations for accessory dwelling units comply with state legislation that was passed earlier this year.
House Bill 2720 was approved by the governor on May 21, which amended state statute to include regulations for accessory dwelling units, as explained in a city staff report by deputy community development director Ryan Levesque.
The bill mandates that municipalities with populations over 75,000 adopt ADU regulations where single family dwellings are allowed. Municipalities have an adoption deadline of Jan. 1, 2025, for their respective regulations.
Within the new state law, Levesque noted that it allows the city to enact an additional provision to the city’s short term rental regulations.
“Via a separate proposed ordinance, city council will consider adding a provision that requires future short term rental owners with an accessory dwelling unit to reside on the property, with certain conditions,” Levesque stated.
Tempe City Council voted to approve the two city code amendments related to ADUs at its Nov. 21 meeting: one to the zoning and development code and the other related to owner residency regulations and ADUs.
Each of these amendments was approved by council in 6-0 votes, with Councilmember Randy Keating absent. The first public hearings for the amendments took place on Oct. 1.
During the meeting, one individual spoke during the public hearing for the first ordinance, expressing his support for the city’s proposed regulations.
Resident Nolan WIlliams said that he’s spent roughly three years working on ADU policy at the state and local levels, and Tempe’s ordinance is following the “spirit of the law” that the state legislature outlined.
He said that Tempe is welcoming in ADUs in a way that is changing the character of the city’s neighborhoods in a sustainable and reliable way.
“I want to say this amendment has my absolute undivided full support and I want to see it sail forward,” Williams said.
Before the vote, council engaged in a brief discussion, going over how staff will ensure that residents will stay informed about the ADU regulations. Councilmember Nikki Amberg also noted that while she voted in favor of the ordinance, she is aggravated by the state legislature’s choice to require city regulations.
She said that there are some ADU restrictions that she would have liked to see that the city is unable to do and that council will likely be considering its ADU regulations in a couple of years again because of the legislature’s decision.
“So legislation will probably be passing what would be referred to as a cleanup bill to fix some of that,” Amberg said.
Reporter Caroline Yu can be reached at cyu@iniusa.org. To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.
Meet Caroline Caroline Yu joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2020 as a summer intern covering Scottsdale. As an intern, she continued her coverage of Scottsdale, Paradise Valley and Tempe. After graduating in 2022, Caroline became a full-time reporter for Scottsdale and Paradise Valley. She is currently reporting for the Tempe market.
Community: She is a supporter of the environment and tries to get involved with related community events.
Education: Arizona State University with a BA in Journalism and Mass Communications, with a minor in French.
Random Fact: She used to be a ballet dancer for 10 years.
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