What setbacks apply to an ADU in Arizona?
Where Arizona's ADU laws apply, a city or county cannot require an ADU to sit more than 5 feet from the side or rear property line, or set stricter height, setback, lot-size, coverage or frontage rules than it sets for single-family homes in the same zone.
Five feet is the most a city or county may require at the side and rear.12 Front setbacks are covered by the second rule instead: no stricter than for a single-family home in the same zone.12
No matching design
A city or county cannot require an ADU to match the house's exterior design, roof pitch or finishing materials.12
Codes still apply
Neither statute overrides building or fire codes.12 A wall close to a property line can still need fire-resistance construction under the building code the city or county has adopted. Setbacks and code separation are different tests, so check both before fixing the ADU's position.
Who publishes this
Kyrax Developments is a BC Housing-licensed builder based in British Columbia. It publishes this page as a reference to Arizona state law. The page is not legal advice and not an offer of construction services in Arizona. The city or county planning department has the final word on any specific lot.
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