Signed by Governor Katie Hobbs

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that amends and changes zoning regulations in certain cities to allow more housing in Arizona.

Highlights:

• Requires municipalities of 75 people or more to incorporate the development of duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, and townhomes as a permitted use on lots zoned for single-family residential use within a mile of the central business district and at least 20% of any new development of more than 10 acres (Sec. 9-462.10).

• Prohibits municipalities from doing the following, including (Sec. 9-462.10):

• Discourage the development of middle housing by making construction impracticable;

• Restrict middle housing to 2 floors;

• Restrict middle housing to a floor area ratio of less than 50%;

• Set stricter restrictions for middle housing than that of single-family housing in the same zone;

• Require owner occupancy;

• Require any structure to comply with a commercial building code or contain a fire sprinkler; and

• Requires more than one off-street parking space for each unit.

• Specifies that these prohibitions do not apply to areas that are not incorporated, not served by water and sewer services, not zoned for residential use, lack sufficient urban services, covered under Title 48, Chapter 6, Article 4, or in the territory of a military airport (Sec. 9-462.10).

• Establishes an effective date of January 1, 2026 (Sec. 9-462.10).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that amends and changes zoning regulations in certain cities to allow more housing in Arizona.

Highlights:

• Requires municipalities of 75 people or more to incorporate the development of duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, and townhomes as a permitted use on lots zoned for single-family residential use within a mile of the central business district and at least 20% of any new development of more than 10 acres (Sec. 9-462.10).

• Prohibits municipalities from doing the following, including (Sec. 9-462.10):

• Discourage the development of middle housing by making construction impracticable;

• Restrict middle housing to 2 floors;

• Restrict middle housing to a floor area ratio of less than 50%;

• Set stricter restrictions for middle housing than that of single-family housing in the same zone;

• Require owner occupancy;

• Require any structure to comply with a commercial building code or contain a fire sprinkler; and

• Requires more than one off-street parking space for each unit.

• Specifies that these prohibitions do not apply to areas that are not incorporated, not served by water and sewer services, not zoned for residential use, lack sufficient urban services, covered under Title 48, Chapter 6, Article 4, or in the territory of a military airport (Sec. 9-462.10).

• Establishes an effective date of January 1, 2026 (Sec. 9-462.10).

Full Bill Text