Norwalk planning commission approves ADU ordinance amendment, opts for smaller setback standard

NORWALK, Aug. 25, 2025 — The Norwalk City Planning and Zoning Commission on Monday approved a zoning amendment that rewrites the city's accessory dwelling unit (ADU) rules to conform with a recent state law and applies the city's accessory-structure setbacks (the less restrictive standard) when siting ADUs on single-family lots.

The change, approved by roll call after a public hearing, replaces Norwalk's ADU definition and rewrites Section 175A of the zoning ordinance to mirror the state code. Commissioner Samuelson moved the amendment and Commissioner Thompson seconded; commissioners recorded votes in favor during a roll call.

Planning staff said the state legislature passed a new senate file earlier this year that narrows what cities may regulate about ADUs. Elliot, community development staff, told the commission the ordinance 'cleans that up so that we'll be in conformance with the state code' and that one substantive choice for the city was whether to require ADUs to meet principal-building setbacks or the less restrictive accessory-structure setbacks.

Elliot described the two options to the commission. Under the principal-building setbacks described in staff materials the R-1 standard could…