Accessory dwelling units are allowed in certain situations to:

A.

Create new housing units while respecting the look and scale of single-dwelling neighborhoods;

B.

Allow more efficient use of existing housing stock and infrastructure;

C.

Provide a mix of housing that responds to changing family needs and smaller households;

D.

Provide a means for residents, particularly seniors, single parents, and families with grown children, to remain in their homes and neighborhoods, and obtain extra income, security, companionship and services; and

E.

Provide a broader range of accessible and more affordable housing.

(Ord. 415 § 7.112.010, 2002)

A.

An accessory dwelling unit may be added to any single-family detached dwelling or manufactured home in any residential (R) zoning district.

B.

Approvals for accessory dwellings shall be approved administratively pursuant to Chapter 16.78, except for accessory dwelling units requiring exterior modifications on properties and detached accessory dwelling units located in the historic residential overlay which shall require approval by the Historic Review Board pursuant to Chapters 17.16 and 17.24 prior to administrative approval.

(Ord. 455 § 10, 2010; Ord. 415 § 7.112.020, 2002)

All applications for accessory dwelling units shall be made on forms provided by the city and shall be accompanied by:

A.

A site plan drawn to standard engineering scale showing the location of the accessory dwelling unit, the entrance and exits from the site, and areas to be designated for parking;

B.

A completed building permit application, if applicable.

(Ord. 415 § 7.112.030, 2002)

A.

Standards for creating accessory dwelling units address the following purposes:

1.

Ensure that accessory dwelling units are compatible with the desired character and livability of Aurora's residential zones;

2.

Respect the general building scale and placement of structures to allow sharing of common space on the lot, such as driveways and yards;

3.

Ensure that accessory dwelling units are smaller in size than principal dwelling units; and

4.

Provide adequate flexibility to site buildings so that they fit the topography of sites.

5.

Ensure that there is only one accessory dwelling unit per lot.

B.

The design standards for accessory dwelling units are stated in this section. If not addressed in this section, the base zone development standards apply.

C.

An accessory dwelling unit may only be created through the following methods:

1.

Converting existing living area, attic, basement or garage;

2.

Adding floor area;

3.

Constructing a detached accessory dwelling unit on a site with an existing single-family detached dwelling or manufactured home; or

4.

Constructing a new single-family detached dwelling or siting a new manufactured home with an internal or detached accessory dwelling unit.

D.

Only one entrance to a residence may be located on the front façade of the single-family dwelling or manufactured home facing the street, unless the single-family dwelling or manufactured home contained additional front doors entrances before the conversion accessory dwelling unit was created. An exception to this regulation is entrances that do not have access from the ground such as entrances from balconies or decks.

E.

The size of the accessory dwelling unit may be no more than fifty (50) percent of the living area of the principal building or one thousand (1,000) square feet, whichever is less.

F.

Accessory dwelling units created through the addition of floor area must meet the following:

1.

The exterior finish material must be the same or visually match in type, size and placement, the exterior finish material of the existing single-family detached dwelling or manufactured home.

2.

The roof pitch must be the same as the predominant roof pitch of the existing single-family detached dwelling or manufactured home.

3.

Trim on edges of elements on the addition must be the same in type size and location as the trim used on the rest of the existing single-family detached dwelling or manufactured home.

4.

Windows must match those in the existing single-family detached dwelling or manufactured home in proportion (relationship of width to height) and orientation (horizontal or vertical).

G.

Detached accessory dwelling units must meet the following:

1.

The accessory dwelling unit must be setback at least six feet behind the front building line of the detached single-family dwelling or manufactured home.

2.

The maximum height for a detached accessory dwelling unit shall not exceed the height of the principal structure. Accessory dwelling units constructed over an accessory building such as a garage or work space shall not exceed the height of the principal structure.

3.

The accessory dwelling unit shall be set a minimum of five feet from the principal structure.

4.

The exterior finish and trim material must match the type, size and placement of the exterior finish material of the single-family detached dwelling or manufactured home.

5.

The roof pitch must be the same as the predominant roof pitch of the single-family detached dwelling or manufactured home.

6.

Windows must match those in the single-family detached dwelling or manufactured home in proportion (relationship of width to height) and orientation (horizontal or vertical).

H.

All parking must meet the requirements of Chapter 16.42, for single-family residences, except as follows:

1.

No additional parking space is required for the accessory dwelling unit if it is created on a site with an existing single-family dwelling or manufactured home and, the roadway surface on at least one abutting street is at least eighteen (18) feet wide.

2.

One additional parking space is required for the accessory dwelling unit when:

a.

None of the abutting street roadway surfaces are at least eighteen (18) feet wide;

b.

When the accessory dwelling unit is created at the same time as the single-family detached dwelling is constructed or the manufactured home is sited. (Ord. 415 § 7.112.040, 2002)

I.

All setback requirements applicable to the base residential zone shall apply to accessory dwelling units.

J.

Either the principal residence or the accessory dwelling unit must be occupied by the owners of the property. Accessory dwelling units shall not be subdivided or otherwise segregated in ownership from the principal building. The owners shall sign an affidavit affirming that the owners will occupy the principal building or the accessory dwelling unit as their principal residence for at least six months every year. The owners shall sign a covenant agreeing to the conditions of this section that shall be recorded with the Marion County Clerk's office. The form of the affidavit and covenant shall be specified by the City.

K.

There may be only one accessory dwelling unit per lot.

L.

Accessory dwelling units shall not be separated in ownership from the underlying property on which it and the main house to which it is accessory are located. Attached accessory dwelling units shall not be separated in ownership from the main house to which it is accessory.

(Ord. 488, § 2(Exh. A), 2019; Ord. 455 § 11, 2010)