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Accessory Dwelling Units

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Ordinance No. 2024-02 was approved at City Council on April 16, 2024.

To learn the building requirements and how to get started adding an ADU to a property, visit the Planning Department's Accessory Dwelling Unit webpage.


Background from before ordinance was approved

The purpose of this item is to consider an ordinance that would allow accessory dwelling units (ADUs) on lots with a single-family home. A copy of the proposed ordinance can be found under the "Documents" section on this page. General information about ADUs can be found in the "FAQ" section on this page. Highlights of the proposed ordinance can be found below.

Proposed ordinance highlights

The following are some key elements of the proposed ordinance. These requirements are subject to change based on Planning Commission and City Council direction.

  • ADUs would be allowed only on properties with a single-family home.
  • No more than one ADU would be allowed per property.
  • The ordinance would allow internal, attached, and detached ADUs.
  • Either the ADU or primary home may be rented at one time but not both. A rental license is required to rent either unit. An ADU may not be used as a short term rental, as they are not allowed anywhere within the City of Edina.
  • ADUs may not be sold independently from the primary home or create a separate tax parcel.
  • The maximum size for an ADU is 1,000 square feet, which is consistent with the existing maximum for detached accessory buildings. Properties where an ADU is proposed are still subject to building and lot coverage maximums, which may further restrict the size of an ADU.
  • The ordinance allows an exception for ADUs proposed within an existing basement to exceed the 1,000 square foot maximum.
  • No minimum size for an ADU is proposed.
  • Some design requirements are imposed to maintain the appearance of a single-family property.
  • Requirements for setbacks vary depending on the proposed height of the ADU. In order to allow ADUs above a detached garage, up to two stories is allowed.
  • Additional parking is not required for an ADU; however, existing restrictions for on-street parking dictate that any needed parking must be provided on the property.


How did we get here?

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) have been identified in several of Edina's guiding documents, including the Comprehensive Plan, Climate Action Plan and the Affordable Housing Strategy Task Force Report as a potential tool to further housing and sustainability goals. As such, the Edina Planning Commission's 2022 and 2023 work plans included the directive to "review and recommend changes to city ordinances regulating Accessory Dwelling Units". City staff and a sub-committee of the Planning Commission met numerous times over 2022 to research ADUs and how other cities regulate them.

The information was presented to the full Planning Commission at their November 16, 2022 work session. At their January 11, 2023 meeting, the Planning Commission approved an Advisory Communication recommending that the City Council direct staff and the Planning Commission to draft an ordinance allowing ADUs. The Planning Commission's recommendation was presented to the City Council at their February 7, 2023 meeting. At the May 16, 2023 City Council work session, council provided feedback to staff and the Planning Commission to continue with developing recommended zoning changes for accessory dwelling units and to collect community input on the topic.

The City gathered feedback from the community using a brief online survey. The Planning Commission held work sessions on October 25, 2023, November 15, 2023, December 13, 2023 and January 10, 2024 to review the survey results and develop the framework for the proposed ordinance.


Questions

Please contact Community Development Coordinator Addison Lewis (952-833-9522 or ALewis@edinamn.gov) with any questions.



Ordinance No. 2024-02 was approved at City Council on April 16, 2024.

To learn the building requirements and how to get started adding an ADU to a property, visit the Planning Department's Accessory Dwelling Unit webpage.


Background from before ordinance was approved

The purpose of this item is to consider an ordinance that would allow accessory dwelling units (ADUs) on lots with a single-family home. A copy of the proposed ordinance can be found under the "Documents" section on this page. General information about ADUs can be found in the "FAQ" section on this page. Highlights of the proposed ordinance can be found below.

Proposed ordinance highlights

The following are some key elements of the proposed ordinance. These requirements are subject to change based on Planning Commission and City Council direction.

  • ADUs would be allowed only on properties with a single-family home.
  • No more than one ADU would be allowed per property.
  • The ordinance would allow internal, attached, and detached ADUs.
  • Either the ADU or primary home may be rented at one time but not both. A rental license is required to rent either unit. An ADU may not be used as a short term rental, as they are not allowed anywhere within the City of Edina.
  • ADUs may not be sold independently from the primary home or create a separate tax parcel.
  • The maximum size for an ADU is 1,000 square feet, which is consistent with the existing maximum for detached accessory buildings. Properties where an ADU is proposed are still subject to building and lot coverage maximums, which may further restrict the size of an ADU.
  • The ordinance allows an exception for ADUs proposed within an existing basement to exceed the 1,000 square foot maximum.
  • No minimum size for an ADU is proposed.
  • Some design requirements are imposed to maintain the appearance of a single-family property.
  • Requirements for setbacks vary depending on the proposed height of the ADU. In order to allow ADUs above a detached garage, up to two stories is allowed.
  • Additional parking is not required for an ADU; however, existing restrictions for on-street parking dictate that any needed parking must be provided on the property.


How did we get here?

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) have been identified in several of Edina's guiding documents, including the Comprehensive Plan, Climate Action Plan and the Affordable Housing Strategy Task Force Report as a potential tool to further housing and sustainability goals. As such, the Edina Planning Commission's 2022 and 2023 work plans included the directive to "review and recommend changes to city ordinances regulating Accessory Dwelling Units". City staff and a sub-committee of the Planning Commission met numerous times over 2022 to research ADUs and how other cities regulate them.

The information was presented to the full Planning Commission at their November 16, 2022 work session. At their January 11, 2023 meeting, the Planning Commission approved an Advisory Communication recommending that the City Council direct staff and the Planning Commission to draft an ordinance allowing ADUs. The Planning Commission's recommendation was presented to the City Council at their February 7, 2023 meeting. At the May 16, 2023 City Council work session, council provided feedback to staff and the Planning Commission to continue with developing recommended zoning changes for accessory dwelling units and to collect community input on the topic.

The City gathered feedback from the community using a brief online survey. The Planning Commission held work sessions on October 25, 2023, November 15, 2023, December 13, 2023 and January 10, 2024 to review the survey results and develop the framework for the proposed ordinance.


Questions

Please contact Community Development Coordinator Addison Lewis (952-833-9522 or ALewis@edinamn.gov) with any questions.



Questions?

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  • Share What if any study has been done on communities near Edina with similar demographics to see what their ordinances are and how many applications have they received and how many actually built and in use? There has been so much work on this idea and I have to wonder how practial it is.? Would be interested in knowing what other communities are doing. Thanks. on Facebook Share What if any study has been done on communities near Edina with similar demographics to see what their ordinances are and how many applications have they received and how many actually built and in use? There has been so much work on this idea and I have to wonder how practial it is.? Would be interested in knowing what other communities are doing. Thanks. on Twitter Share What if any study has been done on communities near Edina with similar demographics to see what their ordinances are and how many applications have they received and how many actually built and in use? There has been so much work on this idea and I have to wonder how practial it is.? Would be interested in knowing what other communities are doing. Thanks. on Linkedin Email What if any study has been done on communities near Edina with similar demographics to see what their ordinances are and how many applications have they received and how many actually built and in use? There has been so much work on this idea and I have to wonder how practial it is.? Would be interested in knowing what other communities are doing. Thanks. link

    What if any study has been done on communities near Edina with similar demographics to see what their ordinances are and how many applications have they received and how many actually built and in use? There has been so much work on this idea and I have to wonder how practial it is.? Would be interested in knowing what other communities are doing. Thanks.

    Kathy asked 3 months ago

    The ordinances of 20+ other communities were reviewed and general information was gathered from many more.  About half were cities in the Twin Cities Metro and half were other cities from around the country.   Analysis included looking at how many ADUs are being built and where.  The prevalence of ADUs being built varies by region across the country and is dependent on many different market variables.  Differences in local housing markets are one big factor, as are regulations.  The areas that have experienced the biggest explosion of ADUs are coastal cities with an extreme pent-up demand for housing.  Allowing enough housing to be built over time to keep up with demand helps ensure we don’t get to that point.

    ADU development in the Twin Cities has been slower to take off.  Most communities in the Twin Cities that allow ADUs have only recently started allowing them.  As with anything new, there are institutional adjustments that take time to work out.   For example, there may be relatively few contractors specializing in ADUs or few lending institutions that will finance construction of an ADU.  Many of these conditions improve as ADUs become more common and have improved significantly in the last 5-7 years.   Like nearby communities, it is not expected that Edina will experience an immediate influx of ADU development but rather incremental change over time.  ADUs are expensive but all new housing is expensive to build.  ADUs are relatively inexpensive when compared to other types of housing.  An ADU is likely not practical for everyone but the intent is to allow flexibility to property owners who may decide that it is. This policy is also trying to be responsive to feedback from the City’s Quality of Life Survey, which indicated a lack of variety in housing options in the City.  

    -Addison Lewis, Community Development Coordinator

  • Share Just a follow up I saw the list of communities but what is more important are they even getting any applications? These are very expensive and frankly not practical, I think this is a lot of work for something that will be on the books but not used. on Facebook Share Just a follow up I saw the list of communities but what is more important are they even getting any applications? These are very expensive and frankly not practical, I think this is a lot of work for something that will be on the books but not used. on Twitter Share Just a follow up I saw the list of communities but what is more important are they even getting any applications? These are very expensive and frankly not practical, I think this is a lot of work for something that will be on the books but not used. on Linkedin Email Just a follow up I saw the list of communities but what is more important are they even getting any applications? These are very expensive and frankly not practical, I think this is a lot of work for something that will be on the books but not used. link

    Just a follow up I saw the list of communities but what is more important are they even getting any applications? These are very expensive and frankly not practical, I think this is a lot of work for something that will be on the books but not used.

    Kathy asked 3 months ago

    Response provided on your first post.  Please let me know if you have additional questions.  

    -Addison Lewis, Community Development Coordinator

  • Share Is it too late to chime in with support? on Facebook Share Is it too late to chime in with support? on Twitter Share Is it too late to chime in with support? on Linkedin Email Is it too late to chime in with support? link

    Is it too late to chime in with support?

    Mrs. B asked 6 months ago

    Hello, 

    The ADU survey has closed, however, the Planning Commission is currently working on developing a draft ordinance that would allow ADUs.  When the ordinance is brought forward for consideration by the Planning Commission and City Council, there will be public hearings and you would be able to provide feedback as part of that process.  It is anticipated that those public hearings will take place in the first quarter of 2024.  

    -Addison Lewis, Community Development Coordinator

Page last updated: 01 May 2024, 09:54 AM