Posted October 7, 2021
A proposal to allow casitas, or Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), in Tucson was recommended for approval by the Planning Commission. Mayor and Council will hold a virtual Public Hearing on October 19 before they consider adopting this code amendment. Email cityclerk@tucsonaz.gov to submit comments or request to speak at the virtual hearing.
- Mayor and Council meeting agenda
- Watch the public hearing live
Casitas, or ADUs, are independent living spaces with their own kitchen. They provide more flexible housing options, support aging in place, and are a way of promoting sustainable infill development. The proposal to allow casitas in Tucson was developed based on input from the public and a stakeholder group over the past 10 months.
Review Frequently Asked Questions about the casita proposal
Watch a video to see examples of casitas in Tucson and learn more about the proposal!
Currently, these types of units are restricted to either a guest house without a kitchen, or are considered a second dwelling unit and can only be built on large lots. This proposal would make it easier to build casitas across the city.
The current proposal would allow:
- One ADU to be built on any residential lot in the city (meaning a lot with one or two homes)
- The maximum size of the ADU would be 1,000 square feet for lots over 7,000 square feet and 750 square feet on lots under 7,000 square feet
- All other dimensional standards, including maximum building height, lot coverage, and setbacks would apply
- One parking space would be required per ADU, which could be waived for sites that are a quarter-mile from transit or a bike boulevard; on-street parking can also be used
- Each newly constructed ADU would be required to have a cool roof
Learn more: take a look at this flyer for an overview of the proposal (folleto en Español) or visit the project webpage for more background.