Proposed Legislation Targets Arizona Housing Crisis

A series of state bills address barriers to housing production including parking minimums and ADUs.

1 minute read

February 5, 2024, 12:00 PM PST

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


View from hilltop of Glendale, Arizona with saguaro cactus in left foreground.

Glendale, Arizona. | dcorneli / Adobe Stock

Writing in Axios, Jessica Boehm describes proposed Arizona state legislation that seeks to address the state’s housing affordability crisis. 

While lawmakers remain divided on many of the proposed measures, among the bills that could have enough bipartisan support are the Arizona Starter Homes Act, which would bar cities from requiring amenities or design standards that would slow the housing construction process, and SB1415,  which would legalize accessory dwelling units (ADUs), locally known as casitas, in cities with populations larger than 75,000 people.

Another bill, HB2374 would prohibit parking minimums in certain housing developments. Other bills would extend the state Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program to finance affordable housing and require that eviction notices include information about assistance programs. Commenting on the proposals, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs said “I would like to see something that strikes the right balance between our ability to build faster and local control.”

Friday, February 2, 2024 in Axios Phoenix

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

Street with parking protected bike lane and parked cars in downtown Portland, Oregon.

Portland Raises Parking Fees to Pay for Street Maintenance

The city is struggling to bridge a massive budget gap at the Bureau of Transportation, which largely depleted its reserves during the Civd-19 pandemic.

July 8 - Willamette Week

Aerial view of Spokane, Washington with river in foreground.

Spokane Mayor Introduces Housing Reforms Package

Mayor Lisa Brown’s proposals include deferring or waiving some development fees to encourage more affordable housing development.

July 8 - The Spokesman-Review

Close-up on black and white "Bike Lane Ends" sign with bike logo.

Houston Mayor Kills Another Bike Lane

The mayor rejected a proposed bike lane in the Montrose district in keeping with his pledge to maintain car lanes.

July 8 - Houston Public Media

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Associate/Senior Planner

Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA