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Huachuca City council opens discussion on tiny homes and ADU standards
Summary
At its Jan. 29 work session the Huachuca City Town Council opened discussion on allowing tiny homes and accessory dwelling units. Staff presenter Dr. Jim Johnson outlined proposed ADU rules including reduced side setbacks and utility/entrance requirements; no ordinance was adopted.
The Huachuca City Town Council on Jan. 29, 2026 opened discussion on allowing tiny homes and accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and heard a presentation from Dr. Jim Johnson on draft standards. The item was opened for discussion by a motion from Mayor Johann R. Wallace and seconded by Councilmember Christy Hirshberg; council did not adopt an ordinance at the session.
Dr. Jim Johnson summarized proposed ADU constraints that the council may consider. The presentation recapped that tiny homes can be classified as an accessory dwelling unit and listed specific controls: lowering side setbacks from 7 feet to 5 feet or 3 feet; permitting only one ADU per single-family lot (attached or detached); requiring ADU access from the primary street rather than alleys; prohibiting subdivision of the ADU from the principal dwelling; requiring ADUs to be served by the same water, sewer and electric utility providers and meters as the primary house (no separate meters); and requiring each ADU to have a separate and independent entrance while meeting the design standards of the primary dwelling. The materials also state that the primary house must meet minimum property and building maintenance standards before an ADU can be approved.
The draft materials in the packet also included limits on unit features: the minutes note that "ADU’s cannot contain more than one bedroom" and include a fragment stating "not exceed two." The record does not clarify what "not exceed two" refers to (for example, bathrooms or occupants); the council discussion did not resolve that ambiguity in the minutes. Councilmembers asked questions and discussed the trade-offs between flexibility for homeowners and neighborhood compatibility, but no formal rule changes were adopted at the meeting.
Next steps recorded in the minutes indicate the council may give direction to staff for action at subsequent meetings; staff was not recorded as having been given a final directive or ordinance to draft at this session.
