Tempe highlights ADU design challenge, launches plan library and ADU tracking dashboard

Tempe staff on Wednesday described the results of an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) design challenge and unveiled online tools intended to streamline ADU development in the city.

"We applied for and were awarded a $20,000 grant from AARP earlier this year to host a housing design competition," Lucas Jensen, planner with Tempe Community Development, said in a presentation to the council. The competition selected 10 winners who will each receive up to $2,000 and have plan-review fees waived, Jensen said.

Staff said the winning plans will be listed in a public "standard plan library" once they pass a standard plan review. Jensen said the library is live on tempe.gov/standardplanlibrary but currently displays an "in review" banner, which prevents licensing until approval. He added that the city capped licensing fees for these designs at $5,000 and limited accepted designs to single-story plans with a maximum of three bedrooms and 1,000 square feet to match code applicability.

The presenters said the city also launched an ADU tracking dashboard that maps ADU applications and shows status back to 2020. "Seventy-seven total applications since 2020," Jensen said, and staff reported that the majority of those applications arrived after the council adopted an expanded ADU ordinance in December 2024.

Council members praised the competition as a way to engage local designers and residents. One councilor said the dashboard will be a useful public resource to direct residents with questions about ADU permitting.

The city described the plan library and dashboard as tools to reduce permitting time and lower design and consulting costs, but staff emphasized that the standard plans must first complete building-safety and code review before they can be licensed for construction.

The council did not take a formal vote on ADU policy at the session; staff said they will continue developing the program and implementation details.