At the October meeting, City Council approved a series of changes to the zoning code in Blue Ash. While there were a number of issues addressed (see blog about the proposal here, see full text here starting on page four), I’m most excited about allowing one Auxiliary Dwelling Unit (ADU) on each owner-occupied residential property. As I wrote before Council considered the proposal:

An ADU can be part of the main house’s structure (think basement apartment) or detached (think the over-the-garage apartment that the Fonz lived in). The benefit of ADUs include allowing residents to make income from their property while providing needed housing for people who are in a season of life where they can’t yet or no longer wish to occupy an entire house.”

While you can find all of the detailed regulations in the zoning code, here are some highlights for detached units according to Paul Kleier, Blue Ash Community Development Director:

• Each property is limited to a maximum of 2 accessory structures, whether used for a residential purpose or not. Only one can be an ADU.
• The total area of accessory structures—whether used for a residential purpose or not—is 800 square feet or 7% of the total property area, whichever is greater.
• The height of an accessory structure cannot exceed 12 feet at the eaves and cannot exceed 16 feet overall.
• Accessory structures must be in the side or rear yard and must be at least 5 feet away from the side and rear property lines and from the principal building.
• Each property is limited to 1 driveway—which cannot exceed 25% of the front yard.