The Boulder City Council unanimously voted Thursday, Feb. 6, to further ease regulations on accessory dwelling units (ADUs) to comply with a 2024 state law set to take effect in June.
In 2023, the council repealed several ADU restrictions, including a “saturation limit” that capped the number of units allowed in certain neighborhoods. The latest ordinance goes further by eliminating the owner-occupancy requirement — which previously required property owners to live in the primary dwelling for at least half the year — and waiving the off-street parking requirement for market-rate ADUs.
The ordinance also removes minimum lot size requirements, allowing ADUs on any lot where detached homes are permitted. Other changes include eliminating side entrance screening requirements for attached ADUs and private open space requirements for detached ADUs.
By meeting the state’s “ADU supportive jurisdiction” criteria, Boulder becomes eligible for state grant funding to help cover costs associated with developing pre-approved ADU plans, providing technical assistance and reducing permitting fees.
The housing leadership should take a look at the arcane rules for affordable housing that forbids owners from using Air B & B among a host of other restrictions that could ease the financial burdens these owners face. Seems unfair that the higher priced houses in Boulder can rent short-term without being fined. Please take a look at this punitive policy. And there is no Boulder Housing Authority employee who monitors the cleanliness and maintenance of this particular affordable building where my son is an owner: no paint/carpet/ entry upgrades/ or landscaping has been done.
I think relaxing the zoning regulations for ADU, isn’t going to solve the housing issues in Boulder and could negatively impact home prices. Boulder seems to be reaching a saturation point. A lot more traffic in the City and adding more Bike lanes etc.. also doesn’t solve this issue. Not everyone can ride a bike to work! The City is allowing more and more housing without considering that the City it self was never meant to handle this many people, cars etc..
The permit application group at boulder City apparently is not aware of some of these changes. When are they going to get up to speed?
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