Arizona’s weak accessory dwelling unit laws hurt neighborhoods
By Mary Crozier | Phoenix
OPINION — North central Phoenix residents have long welcomed thoughtful growth. Our neighborhoods have evolved while preserving the character, scale and livability that make this area so special for Arizona families.
But what is happening at the corner of 2nd Street and Bethany Home Road is not thoughtful growth; it is a troubling example of rules being stretched in ways that threaten neighborhood integrity and confidence in zoning protections. Left unchecked, neighborhoods could be forever changed due to lax rules and developer greed.
This site was once a single residential lot consistent with long-established neighborhood guidelines. After being purchased by an out-of-state developer, it was split into two lots and expanded to include four large residences.
Two of the four structures were permitted as accessory dwelling units — ADUs — despite exceeding the city’s 1,000-square-foot limit by more than double. The result is a dense, out-of-character development that has sparked neighborhood concern.
Listings suggest units priced well above $1.3 million, underscoring that this project does little to address Phoenix’s housing needs. Instead, it reflects a dramatic increase in density that sidesteps both the spirit and the letter of zoning rules.
The city of Phoenix responded with a letter on Feb. 27, 2026, to clarify that the ADUs were approved only as secondary structures and cannot be sold separately. No legal lot splits exist, and marketing them as independent units violates the city code.
This case highlights a broader issue: Arizona’s 2024 ADU law, House Bill 2720, left too much ambiguity. Without clear guardrails, developers can push beyond what residents and policymakers intended.
Our community supports responsible growth. But without transparency, accountability and consistent enforcement, projects like this risk setting precedents that could permanently and negatively reshape our neighborhoods across the state.
Mary Crozier is president emeritus of the North Central Phoenix Homeowners Association.
Posted Thursday, March 26, 2026 8:34 am in the Daily Independent