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Mayfield council reviews draft ordinance to regulate accessory dwelling units
Summary
The Mayfield Town Council reviewed Draft Ordinance 2025-6 to establish rules for internal and detached accessory dwelling units (IADUs and DADUs), focusing on owner-occupancy, septic feasibility, parking and a proposed 20,000 sq. ft. minimum for detached units. A public hearing was proposed for Dec. 10.
Mayfield councilors reviewed a planning-commission-drafted ordinance (Ordinance 2025-6) intended to provide rules for internal accessory dwelling units (IADUs) and detached accessory dwelling units (DADUs) while complying with recent state requirements.
The ordinance’s stated purpose is to expand housing opportunities and allow owner-occupants to create rental income while preserving the town’s rural character. Council discussion identified the ordinance’s principal requirements: ADUs must be owner-occupied accessory to a primary residence; only one ADU (internal or detached) would be allowed per lot; building permits and compliance with current electrical, plumbing, mechanical and fire codes would be required; and detached ADUs would be subject to setback and lot-size rules. The draft text includes a 12-foot separation standard between the primary dwelling and a detached accessory dwelling and lists a minimum lot size of 20,000 square feet for DADUs.
Council members and residents pressed staff on infrastructure and enforcement issues. Multiple speakers emphasized septic-system capacity and the need for Central Utah Public Health Department approval before permitting an ADU. The draft requires septic feasibility review; staff said no ADU would be permitted on a lot with a failing septic system or without an approved upgrade. Parking and off-street spaces were also discussed: councilors said each ADU should provide additional parking and debated placing parking requirements in the general regulations rather than inside the ADU-specific section.
Participants also raised concerns that adding ADUs could increase property values and thus reduce affordability, an effect some residents have observed elsewhere. Staff noted enforcement challenges in a small, largely septic-served community and said some rules (owner-occupancy and one-ADU-per-lot limits) were written to reduce speculative development.
Next steps: council members asked staff and legal counsel to review draft edits and return language to the planning commission if changes are needed. A public hearing was proposed for the council meeting on Dec. 10, at which the council may consider formal adoption or further amendments.
Details recorded in council materials include the ordinance number (20 25-6) and associated code amendments (25 20 25-7); the planning commission labeled the draft “draft 4.”
