Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs signed two significant housing bills on Tuesday, aiming to expand housing options and improve affordability for Arizonans. The bills will limit cities' ability to restrict backyard casitas and require denser housing near city centers.
The "casita bill" (HB 2720) allows single-family homeowners in 15 cities to build up to two backyard rentals by right, with larger lots permitted to have three units. Cities cannot impose parking requirements or mandate that the units match the main home's appearance.
The "middle housing" bill (HB 2721) requires cities with populations over 75,000 to allow the construction of duplexes, triplexes, and townhomes on all single-family lots within a mile of central business districts.