The Lafayette City Council’s accessory dwelling unit rules now are on track to comply with state laws, meaning that the units – often known as “granny flats” or “mother-in-law apartments” can only exist in certain zoning districts.
Like neighboring municipalities, Lafayette is reviewing its city ordinances to meet Colorado House Bill 24-1152, which requires municipalities to allow accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, in all zoning districts that allow single-family homes. The deadline to comply with the law is June 30, meaning Lafayette must amend its code by then. An ADU is an attached or detached dwelling unit that is independent from the primary residence, but still on the same lot.
The council Tuesday gave initial approval amendments to its ADU regulations to comply with the state law. The council is expected to review its regulations through the Land Use Code Working Group, which is currently rewriting the city’s zoning code. The land use code, or zoning code, is a set of rules the city enacts to govern how land can be used. The code hasn’t been updated for nearly 40 years, and the updated code will be based on the community’s vision for the future, according to the group.
At Tuesday’s meeting, the initial approval included eliminating the requirement for parking for an ADU, with certain exceptions; removing some design requirements, like exterior design and roof forms; and specifying where ADUs are allowed.
As the city works toward updating the code, further amendments to the accessory dwelling unit regulations and its affordability are expected to be addressed.
Lafayette has permitted detached ADUs in the Old Town residential neighborhood since 2002.
In 2023, the city expanded the use, permitting attached and detached ADUs in all areas zoned for single-family detached homesin an effort to allow for more housing types under the city’s land use code, Phil Kleisler, long-range planning manager, said.
The Lafayette Planning Commission suggested additional ADU amendments, such as increasing the maximum square footage of an ADU in certain conditions, lot size coverage and height maximums.
Councilmember David Fridland said that the commission’s suggestions are “common-sense changes,” and should be a part of the city’s ADU regulations.
During public comment, one resident expressed support for ADUs and said that while ADUs are not the “silver bullet” to solving the housing crisis, they will help create more housing stock and options.
Councilmember Tim Barnes said the city has had the affordable ADU conversation for years.
“I think we do need to get (this amendment) across the finish line, and add some of these suggestions into the ordinance,” Barnes said.
While Barnes said that he would rather see the suggestions from the planning commission be placed in the ordinance sooner rather than later, he is confident that the “common sense” amendments will be addressed with the zoning code rewrite.
The council is expected to continue to speak about the ADU city code amendment during a scheduled second reading at its June 3 meeting.