Bills › 91st General Assembly
Relating to county and city regulation of accessory dwelling units
Topics:Cities & counties
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedFebruary 12, 2025
- Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 12, 2025
- Done: House committeeMarch 5, 2025
- Done: Passes the HouseApril 8, 202589–7
- Skipped: Senate committeeSkipped
- Done: Passes the SenateMarch 25, 202549–0
- Done: To the GovernorMay 1, 2025
- Done: Signed into lawMay 1, 2025
Became HF 947 → Its progress continues under the new number. Go to HF 947 What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
This bill provides that a county or city shall adopt an ordinance, motion, resolution, or amendment that allows a minimum of one accessory dwelling unit (ADU) on the same lot as a single family residence.1, limits or prohibits the construction or use of an ADU. The imposition of an ordinance, motion, resolution, or amendment regulating ADUs that is more restrictive when applied to a common interest community than when applied to a single family residence is prohibited.26. _____ 562A; a requirement that the lot containing a single family residence and an ADU have additional parking beyond that required for a single family residence or payment of a fee in lieu of providing additional parking; the requirement of new or separate utility lines between the ADU and public or private utility service connections; prohibition of the construction of an ADU as it relates to the timing of the construction of the single family residence on the same lot; imposition of a different county or city impact fee structure for an ADU than the one used for the single family residence on the same lot; and the requirement of improvements or repairs to public streets or sidewalks beyond those imposed on the single family residence on the same lot.
Read the full explanation
A county or city cannot impose restrictions on the occupants of either the single family residence or the ADU by any the following manners: requiring the property owner to be a resident; requiring a familial, marital, or employment relationship to exist between the occupants of the single family residence and the occupants of the ADU; and restricting the occupancy of an ADU based on income or age. A county or city shall not require an ADU to match the exterior design, roof pitch, or finishing materials of the single family residence. A county or city may prohibit the ADU from being larger than the single family residence on the same lot. If full utility access that includes a separate metering system for billing purposes cannot be provided to the ADU then the county or city can require new or separate utility lines between the ADU and public utility service connections. A county or city must approve an ADU permit application that meets the necessary requirements without discretionary review or hearing and consistent with the time frame assigned to the approval of a single family residence. An ADU permit application not approved or denied within days of receipt shall be deemed approved by the county or city. _____ provided in writing to the applicant and include any remedy necessary to secure approval. A county or city ordinance, motion, resolution, or amendment regulating ADUs in a manner that conflicts with the bill is void. A county or city can adopt an ordinance, motion, resolution, or amendment that is more permissive than the requirements provided in the bill. For the purposes of the bill, “accessory dwelling unit” means an additional residential dwelling unit located on the same lot as a single family residence that is either attached to or detached from the single family residence; “detached” includes being part of any accessory structure such as a detached garage; “dwelling unit” means a structure or the part of a structure that is used as a home, residence, or sleeping place; and “single family residence” means a structure maintained and used as a single dwelling unit, even if the structure shares utility lines with the ADU if full utility access that includes a separate metering system for billing purposes is provided to the ADU.
From the explanation printed with the bill as introduced, written by the Legislative Services Agency. Amendments adopted later aren’t reflected. Full bill text · What changed before it passed
House subcommittee
Named February 12, 2025. On February 26, 2025 it recommended amendment and passage.
Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part
Iowa Code it changes
Read from the bill as introduced. Each links to every bill touching that chapter of the Iowa Code. How the Code works
Lobbying
21 for · 0 against · 17 undecided · Who →
Family tree
Where this legislation came from and where it went: earlier tries, the versions it moved through this Assembly, and later bills built on it.
Study bill
91st General Assembly
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