City Council adopts ADU ordinance after hours of public comment and amendments

The Oklahoma City Council unanimously approved an ordinance on May 20, 2025, that allows accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in single‑family neighborhoods under the conditions set out by staff and planners.

The measure, the second of two hearings on the topic, passed after a three‑hour public comment period in which neighbors and housing advocates debated whether the change would help homeowners, renters and older adults or open neighborhoods to investor‑driven redevelopment.

Supporters said ADUs create flexible housing options for families, seniors and workers and can provide rental income that helps long‑time homeowners remain in place. "For the last 11 years, I have owned a modest home in Cleveland neighborhood that has a 750‑square‑foot ground‑floor apartment in the back," said Azure Lamont Herrera, a realtor. "The rental income from that apartment gave me the opportunity to be home with my children when they were born." Travis Roach, an economist and Ward 2 resident, called ADUs a "flexible home environment" and urged safeguards that favor individual homeowners over corporate developers.

Opponents, speaking as neighborhood groups and resident advocates, pressed for additional protections and notice when properties are owned by non‑resident entities. "Our concern about the ordinance as presented is that it is going to incentivize more corporate investment buyers and that will happen without the opportunity for notice and hearing," said Kelly Work, who appeared on behalf of a group of urban‑core residents and submitted a proposed amendment to require notice when the property's principal structure is not the owner's primary residence.

Council members described multiple compromise points included in the ordinance to respond to neighborhood concerns. Among the provisions discussed during the hearing and references from planning staff and neighbors: - Lot coverage: the ordinance does not change a lot's maximum coverage; adding an ADU cannot increase total permitted lot coverage, and impervious surfaces (driveways, sidewalks) are counted; if a lot lacks capacity under those limits owners must pursue the SPUD (special planned unit development) process. - Size and height: ADU size limits and height restrictions are written so they generally cannot exceed the principal residence or its established limits; exceptions require SPUD review. - Parking and notice: the ordinance includes parking requirements and requires on‑site notice (yard signs) for proposed ADU construction to inform neighbors. - SPUD process retained: larger or nonconforming proposals still must go through the SPUD or other rezoning or special‑exception review, which carries public notice and a hearing.

Speakers on both sides urged further safeguards or incentives. "There isn't a corporation on earth that can make ADU construction a sustainable business model," Landry Willis said, citing national data his group had reviewed and arguing that most ADUs are owner‑built. Gary Kaplinger, a resident, emphasized the financial and administrative barriers of the SPUD process that can deter ordinary homeowners: "The SPUD process is expensive ... and in most cases the process can easily take four plus months."

Councilman Todd Cooper, who served as planning commission ADU task force chair before his election to council, said he had worked extensively with the ordinance and noted that many contested items were intentionally retained or adjusted to address neighborhood concerns. "This ordinance is not perfect," Cooper said during his remarks, "but I think we're making the right decision to move in the right direction." He also noted the city will revisit ADU rules as part of a broader zoning code update.

The council took a motion and vote at the close of the hearing and passed the ordinance unanimously. No individual vote tallies were recorded in the public comment transcript. Staff indicated implementation steps, public information and follow‑up will be part of the upcoming zoning code review process.