Accessory Dwelling Units

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Accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, are a form of secondary, independent housing that share a lot with a single-family residence. ADUs can be internal or attached to the main residence or detached and take various forms (see below graphic). In May 2024, a new state law passed that requires the City of Louisville to allow ADUs on all single family lots in the city by June 2025.

In 2023, the City collected public input about potential ADU regulations via an open house and an online survey (on this project page!). However, many of the policy questions we asked the community are now overridden by the new state law, which limits the ways in which local governments can regulate ADUs.

Under this new state law, the City can regulate some aspects of ADUs, mostly related to their size. The City's Planning Commission recommended approval of an ordinance on February 13, 2025. At the April 15, 2025 City Council meeting, Council directed staff to make changes to a proposed ordinance and continue the public hearing to the May 20, 2025 regular City Council meeting. As information is available for these meetings it will be posted on this page. Or stay tuned on the Planning Commission and City Council pages for agendas and reports for these meetings.

Examples of attached vs Detached ADUs:


Accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, are a form of secondary, independent housing that share a lot with a single-family residence. ADUs can be internal or attached to the main residence or detached and take various forms (see below graphic). In May 2024, a new state law passed that requires the City of Louisville to allow ADUs on all single family lots in the city by June 2025.

In 2023, the City collected public input about potential ADU regulations via an open house and an online survey (on this project page!). However, many of the policy questions we asked the community are now overridden by the new state law, which limits the ways in which local governments can regulate ADUs.

Under this new state law, the City can regulate some aspects of ADUs, mostly related to their size. The City's Planning Commission recommended approval of an ordinance on February 13, 2025. At the April 15, 2025 City Council meeting, Council directed staff to make changes to a proposed ordinance and continue the public hearing to the May 20, 2025 regular City Council meeting. As information is available for these meetings it will be posted on this page. Or stay tuned on the Planning Commission and City Council pages for agendas and reports for these meetings.

Examples of attached vs Detached ADUs:


  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    Community Survey

    Thank you to everyone who completed the survey on considering ADUs in fire-affected neighborhoods in February. Your responses have been recorded and will become part of the feedback for the consideration of ADUs across the city. 

    Planning staff intends to facilitate a new survey and community engagement plan to consider ADUs citywide.

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Page last updated: 25 Apr 2025, 03:05 PM