Your Feedback Needed: Public Meetings on Middle Housing Code Changes
Published on August 11, 2025
The City of Tucson will hold public meetings to gather community input on proposed zoning amendments to allow middle housing in certain parts of Tucson. The initiative addresses new state-required standards for duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, and townhomes, designed to create more housing options and increase residential density in strategic areas of the City, aligning with Mayor and Council policy documents such as Plan Tucson, the Housing Affordability Strategy for Tucson (HAST), and Tucson Resilient Together.
The community is invited to join us at one of three public meetings to provide feedback on the proposed code changes. Feedback from this meeting will be used to further refine the draft proposal before its formal review by the Planning Commission and the City of Tucson Mayor and Council.
Meeting Schedule
Virtual Meeting #1
In-Person Meeting
Virtual Meeting #2
Proposed Changes
Following public feedback from May and June public meetings, comments submitted by the public to Planning and Development Services (PDSD), and direction from Mayor and Council, City staff developed a draft proposal that includes new middle housing standards and updated single-family development rules, including additional flexibility related to building setbacks, minimum lot size, and parking. The draft changes are proposed to initially apply within the "Tucson Norte-Sur – Country Club" (TNS-CC) area, approximately bounded by Silverlake Road (south), Country Club Road (east), Wilmot Road (north), and I-10/Silverbell Road (west).
There are also some standards, including landscaping and accessibility requirements, that are proposed to be applied citywide immediately. Based on public feedback and direction from the Mayor and Council, lessons learned from this proposal may be applied to any adopted middle housing regulations citywide in potential future phases. The proposal also includes amendments to the International Residential and Building Codes to meet state requirements.
A full draft proposal, including a redlined version of the code changes, will be posted to the Middle Housing website one week prior to the public meetings. A public feedback form will also be made available for those who are unable to attend a meeting.
Learn more about Middle Housing in Tucson at middlehousing.tucsonaz.gov.
State Law Requirements
House Bill 2721, signed by Governor Katie Hobbs in May 2024, mandates that cities with populations exceeding 75,000 allow middle housing on all lots zoned for single-family residential. Middle housing is defined in HB 2721 as a duplex, triplex, fourplex, or townhome.
The law requires:
- Middle housing is reviewed under the same standards as single-family homes
- Minimum 20% middle housing in new developments larger than 10 acres
- Full compliance by January 1, 2026