Arizona 2025 2025 Regular Session

Arizona Senate Bill SB1529 Comm Sub / Analysis

Filed 03/24/2025

                      	SB 1529 
Initials JH 	Page 1 	Government 
 
ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Fifty-seventh Legislature 
First Regular Session 
Senate: RAGE DP 7-0-0-0 | 3
rd
 Read: 27-0-3-0 
 
SB 1529: municipal housing; preapproved design 
Sponsor: Senator Petersen, LD 14 
Committee on Government 
Overview 
Directs municipalities to establish a preapproved housing design plan program (Program) or 
standard preapproved housing design plans and outlines requirements. 
History 
The governing body of a municipality can adopt an ordinance authorizing administrative 
personnel to review and approve design review plans, site plans, development plans, land 
divisions, lot line adjustments, lot ties, preliminary plats, final plats and plat amendments 
without a hearing (A.R.S. § 9-500.49).  
An accessory dwelling unit is a self-contained living unit that is on the same lot or parcel as 
a single-family dwelling of greater square footage than the accessory dwelling unit, that 
includes its own sleeping and sanitation facilities and that may include its own kitchen 
facilities (A.R.S. § 9-461.18).  
Provisions 
1. Requires municipalities to establish standard, preapproved housing plans or a 
preapproved housing design plan program. (Sec. 1) 
2. Specifies the standard preapproved housing design plans developed by a municipality 
must include at least 3 different elevation options for each class of standard preapproved 
housing design plan. (Sec. 1) 
3. Establishes the following classes of standard preapproved housing design plans: 
a) for class 1, beginning July 1, 2026, in areas zoned as single-family residential, at least 
3 standard preapproved housing design plans for single-family homes ranging in size 
from 800 to 2,000 square feet or 3 single family home sizes beginning with the 
minimum home size allowed by the municipality;  
b) for class 2, beginning January 1, 2027, in areas zoned as single family residential that 
allow for the development of duplexes, at least 3 standard preapproved housing design 
plans for duplex homes ranging from 400 to 1,000 square feet per duplex unit;  
c) for class 3, beginning January 1, 2027, in areas zoned as single-family residential that 
allow for the development of triplexes, at least 3 standard preapproved housing design 
plans for triplex homes ranging from 400 to 1,000 square feet per triplex unit; 
d) for class 4, beginning July 1, 2026, in areas zoned as single-family residential that 
allow for the development of accessory dwelling units, at least 3 standard preapproved 
housing design plans for accessory dwelling units for 200, 600 and 1,000 square feet 
accessory dwelling units. (Sec. 1) 
☐ Prop 105 (45 votes)     ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes)      ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note    	SB 1529 
Initials JH 	Page 2 	Government 
4. Establishes the following requirements for a preapproved housing design plan program: 
a) municipalities must accept plan submissions for the Program for class 1, 2, 3 and 4 
plans;  
b) municipalities cannot restrict who can submit a preapproved housing plan to the 
Program; 
c) municipalities must approve or deny preapproved housing plans through an existing 
administrative process; 
d) authorizes a municipality to charge the same fees they would charge an applicant 
submitting a preapproved class 1, 2, 3 or 4 plan of the same size to applicants who 
submit a preapproved housing design plan to the Program; 
e) municipalities must post preapproved Program plans and the contact information of 
the applicant on their official website;  
f) municipalities must remove a preapproved housing design plan from their website 
within 30 days of receiving a request to remove from the applicant; 
g) allows a municipality to include class 1, 2, 3 and 4 preapproved housing design plans 
developed and approved by the municipality or developed and approved by other 
municipalities or agencies in Arizona; and 
h) municipalities must administratively approve and deny applications for class 1, 2, 3 
or 4 preapproved housing design plans without discretionary review. (Sec. 1) 
5. Clarifies that a municipality posting preapproved housing design plans as part of the 
Program does not constitute an endorsement of the applicant or the applicant's 
application for a preapproved housing design plan. (Sec. 1) 
6. Clarifies that a municipality is not responsible for the accuracy of a Program applicant's 
posted contact information. (Sec. 1) 
7. Authorizes a municipality to require a person or entity to release and indemnify them 
and their employees and contractors as a condition of using a standard preapproved 
housing design plan. (Sec. 1) 
8. Defines accessory dwelling unit. (Sec. 1)