Board adopts ADU expansion and short-term rental rule tied to ADUs under new state law
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Summary
Following state requirements, the board amended county zoning to allow additional accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and adopted an STR rule that requires owner-occupancy for ADUs permitted after Jan. 1, 2026; the board also required deed restrictions on certain detached ADUs to preserve affordable housing.
Coconino County on Tuesday moved to comply with recent state housing legislation and adjusted two local codes to reflect the changes.
Community development staff told the board that HB2928 requires counties to allow increased ADU counts. The county's adopted amendment permits two ADUs on all lots (one attached and one detached) and allows a third ADU on lots of one acre or larger. The Planning & Zoning Commission recommended and the board adopted a provision that the second detached ADU on properties of one acre or more be deed restricted to serve as affordable housing (renter eligibility tied to a percent of area median income), a step staff said will prevent short-term rental conversions of that unit.
Separately, the board amended the county's short-term rental ordinance to implement a related state allowance: if an ADU receives a certificate of occupancy on or after Jan. 1, 2026, and is proposed to be used as a short-term rental, the owner must reside on the property. Community development compliance manager Mark Stento said the change will likely affect a small number of future cases, but helps preserve neighborhood character while allowing purpose-built ADUs for housing rather than solely for STR income.
Both ordinance updates were adopted unanimously.