What is an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU)? (Adapted from www.planning.org/knowledgebase/accessorydwelling/
- An Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) is a smaller, independent residential dwelling unit located on the same lot as a stand-alone single-family home. ADUs go by different names such as accessory apartments, secondary suites, granny flats and many more.
- ADUs can take many different forms such as Detached, Attached, Attached (above garage), Interior (basement), Interior (converted garage), or Interior (upper floor)
- Internal, attached and detached ADUs can increase the affordability of housing (for both homeowners and tenants).
- ADUs can also create a wider range of housing options within a community, enable seniors to stay near family as they age, and facilitate better use of the existing housing fabric in established neighborhoods.
- ADUs are a much more reasonable size for today’s smaller, childless households which now account for nearly two-thirds of all households in the United States.
- Fewer resources are needed to build and maintain ADUs than traditional full-sized homes.
- ADUs offer smaller, affordable homes in established neighborhoods without adding to an area’s suburban sprawl.
- Growth is more dispersed, incremental and manageable than other options such as apartment buildings.
Zoning for Accessory Dwelling Units
- ADUs are most often permitted in one or more single-family zoning districts by right, subject to use-specific standards.
- Criteria for acceptable ADUs include but are not limited to an owner-occupancy requirement, dimensional and design standards, off-street parking requirements, minimum lot sizes, limits on the number of occupants or bedrooms.
Summary of Existing Regulations for ADUs in Cortez:
- Allowed in the R1 and RE zoning districts only by Conditional Use Permit (public hearings required).
- Allowed only if the lot is 20% larger than the required minimum lot size.
- Can not increase existing living space by more than 20% (2,000 sq. ft. home = 400 sq. ft. ADU max)
- Property owner must live in the single-family home.
- 2 additional parking spaces must be provided for the ADU.
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