San Antonio Debates ‘Casita’ Regulations

San Antonio officials continue their debate over loosening regulations to encourage more homeowners to build accessory dwelling units (ADUs), locally known as casitas. As Matt Houston reports for KENS, the city’s mayor is touting the backyard homes as one solution to the housing shortage and a way for homeowners to earn additional income.

“Next week, council members will debate ordinance amendments which would allow for larger suites, higher occupancy, and remove some design requirements.” The same proposal would let homeowners install separate electricity meters on casitas.

Critics of the proposal expressed concern that the new regulations would benefit investors more than local residents, a worry that isn’t entirely unfounded. “Investors bought nearly half of all the homes sold in Bexar County in 2021, up from 11 percent in 2020, according to a National Association of Realtors report.” City councilmembers who oppose the proposal say they support incentivizing casitas, but want to see a more detailed enforcement plan that would include owner-occupancy requirements to prevent out-of-town investors from buying up properties, raising rents, and creating short-term rental ‘party houses.’ “Other council members have lobbied for waving [sic] some fees to incentivize construction instead of relaxing certain construction rules.”