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Richmond planning commission begins drafting standards for detached ADUs; staff to prepare ordinance
Summary
Commissioners supported drafting a city ordinance to allow detached accessory dwelling units (ADUs) with recommended controls—owner-occupancy, no short-term rentals, Fire Department review, limits on height/size and a single ADU per parcel—and tasked staff to return a draft with a tentative public hearing in August.
The Richmond City Planning & Zoning Commission on June 2 held an initial, nonbinding discussion about allowing detached accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in residential zones and directed staff to draft an ordinance addressing standards and enforcement.
Justin Lewis, City Recorder, briefed the Commission that Utah law requires municipalities to permit internal ADUs but does not mandate detached ADUs, leaving the decision to Richmond. Commissioners expressed general support for permitting detached ADUs to help address housing supply, but emphasized clear, enforceable standards.
Key items the Commission asked staff to include in the draft ordinance were owner-occupancy requirements, a prohibition on short-term rentals, permitted residential zones (A-10, A-5, RA-1, RA-2, RLD and RMD), Fire Department review and approval, height and setback limits tied to the primary residence roofline (not to exceed the 35-foot maximum), a utility-connection checklist with staff recommendation that ADU utilities remain tied to the primary residence, two off-street parking spaces for detached ADUs, hard-pack driveway requirements, a single ADU per parcel, and architectural and construction standards aligned with current residential codes.
Commissioners voiced different emphases: Brock Meacham highlighted ADUs’ role amid a housing shortage and urged consistent standards; Cache Christensen urged caution about privacy impacts and suggested increased setbacks where needed; Cindy Allen favored uniform rules to ease administration. Justin noted that any adopted standards must be manageable for staff to review and enforce. The Commission asked staff to draft the ordinance for review at the next meeting, with a tentative public hearing scheduled for August.
Because the conversation was preliminary, no ordinance was adopted that evening.
