Arapahoe County is making a final push to get public input on whether to allow Accessory Dwelling Units within unincorporated portions of the County.
The public has until April 28 to weigh in on Accessory Dwelling Units, or ADUs, which are secondary dwellings that can be added to, created within or built adjacent to a detached single-family home on a property of at least 5,000 square feet.
A survey is available for the public to provide feedback on the proposed draft regulations that would be added to the County’ Land Development Code.
The draft regulations allow ADUs to be built not only within all Agricultural and most Residential zoning districts but also within properties zoned Mixed Use (MU), which are areas that have a mixture of residential and commercial/industrial development.
The draft regulations also allow ADUs in planned unit developments, unless they are prohibited. Homeowner associations with private covenants can prohibit ADUs within their communities.
The draft regulations also prohibit ADUs from being rented or occupied short-term, which is for a period of fewer than 30 consecutive days.
One off-street parking space is required, but it can be in tandem with existing parking, provided the spaces meet the minimum size requirement.
A public hearings for the draft regulations are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. May 16 for the Planning Commission. A hearing date for the Board of County Commissioners has yet to be scheduled. The agenda and details for the May hearing will available on our website prior to the meeting.
The County started working on the draft regulations in the fall of 2021 as one way to address housing affordability and availability within unincorporated Arapahoe County. Currently, ADUs are not allowed.
The proposed regulation also provides requirements and guidelines for design, location, size and the number of bedrooms.
Comments or concerns about the draft regulations can be directed to Arapahoe County Public Works and Development Department Project Specialist Gretchen Ricehill: gricehill@arapahoegov.com.
View the survey.
Additional information is available at www.arapahoegov.com/adu.