Editor’s Update (February 5, 2025):
Recent state legislation (House Bill 2720, ARS 9-461.18) has introduced new requirements for accessory dwelling units. Property owners should verify current regulations and obtain required approvals from their city/town planning department or Pinal County Development Services before starting any construction or modifications.
The Pinal County Board of Supervisors approved a change to the building code that will ease requirements for guest houses/casitas. The decision comes after weeks of discussion and the Planning and Zoning Commission recommending approval.
Key amendments to the code include:
- Allowing cooking facilities in guest houses and casitas
- Removing rental restrictions
- Adjusting size limitations
Community Development Director Brent Billingsley stated that the change specifically addresses the requirement for ranges, ovens, and stoves in new homes. According to Billingsley, this requirement has been a “real hold-up for folks,” with many waiting for this change to be implemented.
In order to protect neighbors Supervisor Serdy added “I think we need to make sure that people aren’t turning their big backyards into two, three, or four casitas and running little businesses like that,” Supervisor Serdy stated. He emphasized that the intended purpose of these units is to house family members, not to create rental businesses. “This is for grandma or your mother-in-law, and not for renting these out and creating little slumlords.”
The text amendment passed unanimously without opposition from the public.
