Cities across North America have been responding to the housing struggle by implementing Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) by right in residential neighborhoods.

ADUs are smaller, independent residential units located on the same lot as a single-family home. An ADU can have many different names, including:

Accessory apartments.
Casitas.
Secondary suites.
Granny flats.
Income suites.
Garage apartments.

ADUs can be converted portions of existing homes, additions to existing homes, or new or renovated stand-alone structures. These smaller units provide a wider range of housing options while maintaining the neighborhood's character.

(Source: AARP, All About Accessory Dwelling Units)

ADUs would create a natural thickening of Norman’s core by providing a private sector-driven response to housing needs. 

For example, let's assume that Norman’s 50,000 owner-occupied housing units are single-family homes and 40%, or 20,000, of these homes are single-family lots where homeowners could build an ADU. 

If just 5% of those homes added an ADU, the city would have 1,000 new residential units to house up to 1,000 college students. 

These units would not require new infrastructure or increase the city’s liabilities. Plus, these units would be dispersed throughout the city instead of being concentrated in one area. 

Are ADUs allowed in Norman?

To understand what’s allowed under current ordinances, we must first break down the definitions.

Norman Zoning Code

36-101 Definitions

Accessory means a use, building, structure, part of a building, or part of a structure which is subordinate to, and the use of which is incidental to, that of the main building, structure, or use on the same lot, including a private garage. If a building otherwise qualified as an accessory building is attached to the main building by a common wall or roof, such building shall be considered a part of the main building. Accessory buildings include, but are not limited to, barns, sheds, guest houses without cooking, private garages, and servant's quarters. Accessory uses include customary house occupations, the keeping of pets, off-street parking and loading facilities. Live entertainment, when offered in conjunction with an otherwise unrelated legal commercial use, will be considered an accessory use when it constitutes no more than ten percent of the gross monthly revenue of the establishment. Uses accessory to apartment houses include prepackaged food and toiletries stores, subject to the provisions of NCC 36-515.

Garage apartment means a single dwelling unit co-located within a building where motor vehicles are normally and regularly stored and having a roof or wall in common.

By definition, “accessory” dwelling units are not permitted in an accessory structure in Norman’s zoning code. This definition is restrictive, limiting smaller residential units to garage conversions only, even though the definition of a garage apartment is strikingly similar to the definition of an ADU. 

Garage apartments are permitted under the current zoning code, but the code also makes the process complicated for property owners who want to build one.

• Market issues: The rental market is strong in Norman, so it makes more sense to develop multi-family properties where zoning allows and overlook the option of smaller units. 
• Lot size requirements: The zoning code defines a garage apartment as a dwelling unit, and dwelling units require a larger minimum lot size. The complications of acquiring a larger lot prevent owners from building another dwelling on their property.  
• Performance standards: additional dwellings have to meet the same standards as single-family homes, which means property owners may have to make significant updates that make their project impractical and unaffordable.

What small steps can we take to allow ADUs in Norman?

Update the zoning code.

Norman will need to prepare a minor change to the zoning code to add ADUs as an explicitly allowed use.

Norman already has a track record of making small changes to the zoning code. The recent single-word change from parking “requirements” to parking “recommendations” has made way for positive new developments downtown. 

When Norman’s required parking was still in effect, there were a few places within the city that were exempt from the rules due to a different zoning code. Local developer Cameron Brewer says that if it weren’t for the pocket of exception within the city, he and his team of co-developers would not have refurbished an abandoned Coca-Cola bottling distribution plant (and before that, an autobody shop) into tap house restaurant, The Standard.

If parking had been required, the project would not have been feasible based on available land . With the code change from required to recommended, The Standard could take advantage of other parking options on the street and in nearby underutilized lots.

Norman could explore a similar simple zoning update that would make it easier to develop a garage apartment under the current definitions or revise existing definitions to allow ADUs by right.  

Align city staff and departments. 

Everyone at city hall needs to understand that ADUs are a viable option for increasing housing stock in the city. 

Building officials, planners, and the unity department should coordinate and identify the most practical areas in the city where ADUs could be constructed with the zoning regulations, typical lot configurations, and state building codes. 

When all departments agree, the approval process is expedited, significantly lowering the risk for homeowners interested in building an ADU.

Educate the public.

An ADU is not a new concept, but residents may be unfamiliar with it. 

Educate the public by:

• Requesting pamphlets and rack cards and sharing them throughout the city is a great first step. Organizations like AARP offer free resources that explain what ADUs are and the benefits they bring to the community.
• Host a city-sponsored ADU information session or sponsor a watch party so homeowners can learn more. (AARP also offers a free virtual workshop.) 
• Build a network of excited property owners and professionals who want to explore this housing option and offer assistance and guidance for those who want to add an ADU to their property.