Yes: Scottsdale allows one attached and one detached ADU by right on any single-family lot that already has a main house, under Zoning Ordinance Sec. 7.900 (Ordinance 4687, adopted September 30, 2025, implementing ARS 9-461.18). The first ADU may be up to 1,000 sq ft or 75% of the main house, whichever is less; a second unit, or a third restricted-affordable unit on a lot of 1 acre or more, is capped at 500 sq ft. A detached ADU built in the rear yard can sit 5 ft from the side and rear lines, must stay 10 ft from the house, needs no added parking and no owner-occupancy unless the house or ADU is offered as a short-term rental. The path is a $131 pre-application, a $131 staff-approval review and then a per-square-foot building permit (about $1,800-$2,550 in city fees for a 500-1,000 sq ft unit, with no impact fee when the ADU shares the house's water meter); Scottsdale-area builders quote roughly $160,000-$320,000 for a detached casita.
In Scottsdale you will also hear an ADU called a casita — Arizona's ADU statute (A.R.S. §9-461.18) and most local codes use it. The rules on this page apply either way.
Outside city limits? If your property is in unincorporated Maricopa County (not within Scottsdale's boundaries), different rules apply — see our Maricopa County (unincorporated) ADU rules.
Zoning & Size Requirements [1][2][3][4][5]
Yes — Scottsdale allows ADUs. A detached ADU can typically be up to 1,000 sq ft under current Arizona and Scottsdale zoning rules.
See what this means for your lot — ask Scottsdale ADU builders for a quote →
| Allowed Zones | Any single-family residential lot that already has a main single-family house (ZO Sec. 7.900, Ord. 4687); the city's ADU FAQ says such lots can be in single-family or multifamily residential districts but not commercial districts. ARS 9-461.18(G) excludes tribal land and lots inside the 65 dB noise contour of Scottsdale Airport or Sky Harbor (HB 2928 shrank those areas in 2025). In the ESL overlay an ADU may not be built inside required NAOS. HOA CC&Rs still apply. |
| Max Size (Detached) | First ADU on the lot: 1,000 sq ft or 75% of the existing main house, whichever is less (Sec. 7.900; ARS 9-461.18 measures interior habitable area). The second and any third ADU: 500 sq ft each. Every ADU needs a private outdoor living space at least 5 ft deep and 50 sq ft, and no more than 6 adults may live in the house and ADUs combined. |
| Max Size (Attached) | Same cap as detached: 1,000 sq ft or 75% of the main house for the first ADU, 500 sq ft if it is the second unit (Sec. 7.900). An attached ADU follows the main house's district setbacks and must have its own exterior entrance, its own displayed address, and separately metered electric and gas; water and sewer branch off the house's existing tap on private property. |
| Max Size (JADU) | Scottsdale has no junior ADU category. A unit carved out of the house is an attached ADU with the same 1,000 sq ft / 75% cap, its own exterior entrance and separate electric and gas meters. An existing guest house can become an ADU if it meets Sec. 7.900 and receives administrative approval; no earlier unpermitted unit is grandfathered (city ADU FAQ, Oct 2025). |
| Max Height | Same maximum height as the underlying zoning district allows for the main house (Sec. 7.900; ARS 9-461.18(B)(5) bars a stricter ADU limit). Limits differ between Scottsdale's R1 districts and the ESL and Foothills overlays, so confirm your lot's district limit at the pre-application meeting before design. |
| Max Units | One attached plus one detached ADU per single-family lot; a third, detached ADU is allowed on a lot of 1 acre or more if at least one ADU is restricted-affordable (deed-restricted or under a development agreement for households at or below 80% of area median income). Second and third units are capped at 500 sq ft, and occupancy is capped at 6 adults across the house and ADUs (Sec. 7.900). |
Setback Requirements [1][2][3][4][5]
Scottsdale requires a rear setback of about 5 ft for a detached ADU, and parking requirements vary by unit size or location. Owner-occupancy is not required — you can rent it out without living on the property.
| Rear Setback | 5 ft for a detached ADU built in the rear yard as the Zoning Ordinance defines it (Sec. 7.900; ARS 9-461.18(B)(6) caps ADU side and rear setbacks at 5 ft). An attached ADU keeps the main house's district rear setback. A detached ADU must also sit at least 10 ft from the main house and from any other ADU on the lot. |
| Side Setback | 5 ft for a detached ADU that is in the rear yard; a detached ADU may not be placed in a required side yard (Sec. 7.900). An attached ADU follows the district side setback for the house. On a corner lot the required front yard on the longer street frontage counts as a front yard, so a detached ADU cannot go there either. |
| Front Setback | Per the underlying district; a detached or restricted-affordable detached ADU may not be built in a required front yard, including the front yard on the longer street frontage of a corner lot (Sec. 7.900). A path of travel from each ADU to the lot's main street frontage is required. |
| Parking Required | No added parking for the ADU; the parking required for the main house must be maintained at all times (Sec. 7.900). ARS 9-461.18(B)(3) bars the city from requiring extra spaces or an in-lieu fee. A garage conversion therefore has to keep the house's required spaces elsewhere on the lot; confirm the replacement layout at the pre-application meeting. |
| Owner Occupancy | Not required for a long-term rental: the house and the ADU may be leased separately for 90 days or month-to-month (ARS 9-461.18(B)(1)-(2)). The owner must reside on the premises if the house or any ADU is rented or offered as a vacation or short-term rental (Sec. 7.900 and 7.203; authority ARS 9-500.39(B)(9)). An ADU cannot be sold separately or split off by subdivision or condominium plat. |
| Min Lot Size | None: any single-family lot with an existing main house qualifies, and ARS 9-461.18(B)(5) bars lot-size, coverage or frontage rules stricter than the district applies to the house. Lot size matters only for a third ADU (1 acre or more) and on ESL lots, where the NAOS set-aside of 20-80% of the lot by slope shrinks the buildable area. |
Permit Process & Fees [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]
An ADU permit in Scottsdale goes through a standard permit review. No ADU-specific figure is published. Residential Plan Review targets 7 business days for the administrative completeness check and 15 business days for substantive review per cycle; the pre-application meeting is usually scheduled within a week. Allow for at least one correction cycle. Permit fees: FY2026/27 schedule (Res. 13661, from July 1, 2026): pre-application $131, ADU staff-approval review $131, permit $237 base plus $0.94/sq ft livable and $0.54/sq ft covered, plan review $0.54 and $0.34/sq ft, CO $195, GIS $379: about $1,800 for 500 sq ft, $2,550 for 1,000 sq ft.
| Approval Process | Three steps under Sec. 7.900, all in the Scottsdale SPUR portal (which replaced eServices on January 6, 2026): 1) online Pre-Application ($131) with a site plan, elevations and utility information, then a 30-60 minute meeting with a planner, usually scheduled within a week; 2) formal administrative application for Development Review - Staff Approval (ADU line, $131), with no public hearing, Development Review Board or use permit (ARS 9-461.18 'permitted use'); 3) building permit with construction documents through Residential Plan Review (Planning, Building, Engineering, Stormwater and Fire). The ADU gets its own address and separate electric and gas meters. One Stop Shop, 7447 E. Indian School Rd, 480-312-7725. |
| Review Timeline | No ADU-specific figure is published. Residential Plan Review targets 7 business days for the administrative completeness check and 15 business days for substantive review per cycle; the pre-application meeting is usually scheduled within a week. Allow for at least one correction cycle. |
| Permit Fees | FY2026/27 schedule (Res. 13661, from July 1, 2026): pre-application $131, ADU staff-approval review $131, permit $237 base plus $0.94/sq ft livable and $0.54/sq ft covered, plan review $0.54 and $0.34/sq ft, CO $195, GIS $379: about $1,800 for 500 sq ft, $2,550 for 1,000 sq ft. |
| Impact Fees | Scottsdale's development (impact) fees are water and wastewater only, charged per new meter: $8,836 water plus $6,028 wastewater = $14,864 for a 5/8-1 in. meter (Schedule #09-15-25, effective September 15, 2025; Scottsdale Revised Code Sec. 49-82). Sec. 7.900 has the ADU branch off the house's existing water and sewer tap on private property, so a standard ADU should not add a meter; confirm with Water Resources (480-312-5685) before budgeting. |
| Plan Check | Full residential plan review in SPUR: an administrative completeness check (7 business days), then substantive review by Planning, Building, Engineering, Stormwater and Fire (15 business days); corrections restart the cycle. Fees are charged on both conditioned and covered square footage, and grading/drainage sheets are priced per sheet by landform. ESL lots add NAOS, native-plant and wash review; a lot in a special flood hazard area needs a $363 lowest-floor certificate review. State law bars a fire-sprinkler or commercial-code requirement for an ADU (ARS 9-461.18(D)). |
| Pre-Approved Plans | None posted. As of September 2026 the city's ADU page and fee schedules list no pre-approved ADU plan set (the 'Single Family Standard Plan' fee line is for production-builder repeats). ARS 9-461.20 (SB 1529 of 2025) requires every Arizona city to offer at least three pre-approved ADU plans at 200, 600 and 1,000 sq ft from July 1, 2026 and to accept outside submissions, so ask the One Stop Shop (480-312-7725) whether Scottsdale's are available. |
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Construction Costs [14][15][16][17]
Building an ADU in Scottsdale typically costs $160,000-$320,000 ($200-$400 per sq ft); a garage conversion runs $80,000-$165,000.
See what this means for your lot — ask Scottsdale ADU builders for a quote →
| Average Build Cost | $160,000-$320,000 |
| Cost per Sq Ft | $200-$400 |
| Garage Conversion | $80,000-$165,000 |
| Prefab ADU (Installed) | $155,000-$300,000 |
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Rental Income Potential [18][19][20][21][22]
A 2-bedroom ADU in Scottsdale rents for around $1,950-$2,600/mo, an estimated Roughly 6-10% gross rental yield on a $160,000-$320,000 detached build at $1,700-$2,200/mo, before taxes, vacancy, insurance and financing.
| Avg Rent (1 Bedroom) | $1,650-$2,250/mo |
| Avg Rent (2 Bedroom) | $1,950-$2,600/mo |
| Short-Term Rental | Yes, with a Scottsdale short-term rental license for the property (Ordinance 4566; state law caps the fee at $250) and only if the owner physically resides on the property: Sec. |
| Est. Annual ROI | Roughly 6-10% gross rental yield on a $160,000-$320,000 detached build at $1,700-$2,200/mo, before taxes, vacancy, insurance and financing |
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Recent Law Changes
What's Changed Recently
- Verification 2026-09-20: allowed_zones corrected from 'very limited residential zones' to any single-family lot with an existing house (single-family or multifamily residential districts, not commercial); the invented $5,000-$8,000 permit and $2,000-$3,000 impact-fee ranges replaced with the FY2026/27 fee schedule (pre-application $131, ADU staff approval $131, per-square-foot permit and plan review) and the water/wastewater development-fee schedule; the 120-180 day timeline replaced with the published 7 + 15 business-day plan-review targets; the tips claiming a conditional use permit and 'owner-occupancy often required' removed as false under Sec. 7.900 and ARS 9-461.18
- Ordinance 4687, adopted September 30, 2025: added Zoning Ordinance Sec. 7.900 (Accessory Dwelling Units) and ADU definitions in Sec. 3.100 to comply with HB 2928 (2025) and ARS 9-461.18: one attached plus one detached ADU by right on single-family lots, a third restricted-affordable detached unit on lots of 1 acre or more, a 1,000 sq ft / 75% cap (500 sq ft for later units), 5-ft side and rear setbacks in the rear yard, 10-ft separation, no added parking, owner residency only for short-term rentals, a six-adult cap and separate electric and gas meters
- Between January 1, 2025 and Ordinance 4687 Scottsdale had no adopted ADU standards, so under ARS 9-461.18(F) ADUs were allowed on residential lots without local limits; the city's October 2025 FAQ confirms ADUs have been allowed since January 1, 2025 and that no earlier unpermitted unit is grandfathered
- HB 2928 (Laws 2025 ch. 217) narrowed the airport exclusion in ARS 9-461.18(G)(3) to lots inside a 65 dB noise contour, expanding where Scottsdale ADUs can be built near Scottsdale Airport and Sky Harbor, and rewrote ARS 9-500.39(B)(9) so a city may require short-term-rental owner residency where the lot's ADU was finaled on or after September 14, 2024; no 2026 amendment to ARS 9-461.18 was found on azleg.gov as of September 2026
- ARS 9-461.20 (SB 1529, 2025) requires at least three pre-approved ADU plans (200, 600 and 1,000 sq ft) from July 1, 2026; Scottsdale had posted none as of September 2026
- Scottsdale SPUR replaced the eServices permitting portal on January 6, 2026, and the FY2026/27 Planning and Development fee schedule (Resolution 13661) took effect July 1, 2026; Ordinance 4690 (November 17, 2025) added separate Middle Housing rules under HB 2721 that do not change the ADU standards
Tips for Building an ADU in Scottsdale
- Size math: the first ADU is the lesser of 1,000 sq ft or 75% of the main house, so a 1,000 sq ft house allows 750 sq ft, a 1,200 sq ft house 900 sq ft, and any house of 1,334 sq ft or more the full 1,000 sq ft; a second (or third) ADU is limited to 500 sq ft regardless of house size
- Guest house or ADU? A Scottsdale guest house cannot be rented separately, must share the house's utilities, is detached only and is capped at 50% of the main residence (all guest houses combined) with a deed restriction; an ADU can be rented, needs separate electric and gas meters and its own address, and goes through administrative review. An existing guest house can be converted once it meets Sec. 7.900
- North and east of the CAP canal you are in the Environmentally Sensitive Lands overlay: 20-80% of the lot must stay natural area open space depending on slope and landform, an ADU may not be built inside NAOS, and native-plant and wash reviews are added to plan check, so have your NAOS easement mapped before siting the unit
- Ask at the pre-application meeting whether your lot is inside the 65 dB noise contour of Scottsdale Airport or Sky Harbor: those lots are outside the state ADU mandate (ARS 9-461.18(G)), and HB 2928 shrank the excluded area in 2025
- Budget for two new meters: Sec. 7.900 requires separately metered electric and gas service to the ADU, while water and sewer branch from the house's existing tap on private property, which is why a standard ADU should avoid the $14,864 per-meter water and wastewater development fee; HOA CC&Rs can still restrict ADUs (ARS 9-461.18(C))
- Cost basis (2026-09-20 re-verification): avg build cost $160,000-$320,000 for a 500-1,000 sq ft detached casita (Rise Above Remodeling 2026 guide $150,000-$250,000, luxury $250,000-$400,000+; Fenn Rogers May 2026 $150,000-$250,000; Hochuli, a Scottsdale remodeler, July 2026: detached $300,000-$600,000+, attached $225,000-$325,000); cost per sq ft $200-$400 (Fenn Rogers $200-$400+, Rise Above $150-$300+); garage conversion $80,000-$165,000 (Rise Above and Fenn Rogers $80,000-$150,000, Hochuli about $165,000); prefab/modular $155,000-$300,000 installed (Dwelling Index May 2026 $200,000-$400,000 all-in). Rents: HUD FY2027 Small Area FMR for Scottsdale ZIPs 85250-85266 1BR $1,660-$2,240 and 2BR $1,930-$2,600; RentCafe Aug 31, 2026 1BR $1,797, 2BR $2,189
- Cost basis (2026-09-20 re-verification): short term allowed: Yes, with a Scottsdale short-term rental license for the property (Ordinance 4566; state law caps the fee at $250) and only if the owner physically resides on the property: Sec. 7.900 requires owner residency for any ADU or main house rented or offered as a vacation or short-term rental (see also ZO Sec. 7.203; authority ARS 9-500.39(B)(9) for ADUs finaled on or after September 14, 2024). Short-term rentals may not be used as event venues (Ordinance 4719).
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Sources & References
All data on this page is sourced from official government records and verified market data. View our full methodology.
- Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) | City of Scottsdale (Ordinance 4687, Sec. 7.900 standards, guest house vs ADU table; page updated May 21, 2026) Planning Department — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Accessory Dwelling Units in Scottsdale - ADU FAQ (City of Scottsdale Planning and Development, October 2025) Planning Department — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Scottsdale Zoning Ordinance Sec. 7.900 Accessory Dwelling Units (Municode) Municipal Code — Accessed 2026-09-20
- ESL Overlay and Natural Area Open Space (NAOS) | City of Scottsdale (NAOS percentages by slope and landform) Planning Department — Accessed 2026-09-20
- ARS 9-461.18 - Accessory dwelling units; regulation; applicability; definitions Government Data — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Application Fee Schedule FY2026/27 (Resolution No. 13661, Exhibit A, effective July 1, 2026) - Pre-Application $131; Development Review - Staff Approval: Accessory Dwelling Units $131 Government Data — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Permit Fee Schedule - Single Family Residential FY2026/27 (Resolution No. 13661; base $237, $0.94/$0.54 per sq ft, CO $195, GIS $379) Government Data — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Plan Review Fee Schedule - Single Family Residential FY2026/27 (Resolution No. 13661; $0.54/$0.34 per sq ft) Government Data — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Fees | City of Scottsdale Planning and Development (FY26/27 schedules, permit fee calculator, fee estimate request) Planning Department — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Residential Plan Review | City of Scottsdale (SPUR portal, review disciplines, 7 + 15 business-day time frames) Planning Department — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Pre-Application & Plan Submittal Process | City of Scottsdale (SPUR pre-application, meeting within about a week, formal submittal) Planning Department — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Water and Wastewater Development Fees, Schedule #09-15-25 (effective September 15, 2025; SRC Sec. 49-82) | City of Scottsdale Water Resources Government Data — Accessed 2026-09-20
- ARS 9-461.20 - Municipal housing; standard preapproved housing design plans (Class 4 ADU plans from July 1, 2026) Government Data — Accessed 2026-09-20
- ADU Cost in Phoenix (2026) | Hochuli Design & Remodeling Team, Scottsdale (updated July 2026) industry — Accessed 2026-09-20
- How Much Does It Cost to Build a Casita in Arizona? (2026 Guide) | Rise Above Remodeling, Phoenix industry — Accessed 2026-09-19
- ADUs in Arizona: Rules, Costs, What to Know (2026) | Fenn Rogers Custom Homes, Mesa (updated May 12, 2026) industry — Accessed 2026-09-19
- Prefab Modular ADU: 2026 Costs, Code Paths & Lot Fit | Dwelling Index (updated May 27, 2026) industry — Accessed 2026-09-19
- HUD FY 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rent Schedule - Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ MSA (Scottsdale ZIP codes 85250-85266) Government Data — Accessed 2026-09-20
- HUD FY 2027 Fair Market Rent Schedule - Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ MSA (1BR $1,493, 2BR $1,734) Government Data — Accessed 2026-09-20
- RentCafe - Average Rent in Scottsdale, AZ (updated August 31, 2026: 1BR $1,797, 2BR $2,189) Market Data — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Vacation and Short-Term Rentals | City of Scottsdale (Ordinance 4566 licence, Ordinance 4719 event-centre ban; page updated Sept 10, 2026) Planning Department — Accessed 2026-09-20
- ARS 9-500.39 - Limits on regulation of vacation rentals and short-term rentals (subsection B.9, ADU owner residency) Government Data — Accessed 2026-09-20
- HB 2720, Laws 2024 Chapter 196 - accessory dwelling units; requirements (added ARS 9-461.18 and 9-500.39(B)(9)) Government Data — Accessed 2026-09-20
- HB 2928, Laws 2025 Chapter 217 - accessory dwelling units; requirements (airport-noise exclusion, counties, 9-500.39(B)(9) rewrite) Government Data — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Legislative Updates | City of Scottsdale Planning and Development (HB 2928 ADU, HB 2721 Middle Housing, HB 2447 administrative review; updated May 21, 2026) Planning Department — Accessed 2026-09-20
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I build an ADU in Scottsdale?
Yes. ADUs are allowed in Any single-family residential lot that already has a main single-family house (ZO Sec. 7.900, Ord. 4687); the city's ADU FAQ says such lots can be in single-family or multifamily residential districts but not commercial districts. ARS 9-461.18(G) excludes tribal land and lots inside the 65 dB noise contour of Scottsdale Airport or Sky Harbor (HB 2928 shrank those areas in 2025). In the ESL overlay an ADU may not be built inside required NAOS. HOA CC&Rs still apply. in Scottsdale. The maximum size for a detached ADU is First ADU on the lot: 1,000 sq ft or 75% of the existing main house, whichever is less (Sec. 7.900; ARS 9-461.18 measures interior habitable area). The second and any third ADU: 500 sq ft each. Every ADU needs a private outdoor living space at least 5 ft deep and 50 sq ft, and no more than 6 adults may live in the house and ADUs combined.. Owner-occupancy is not required, so you can rent out the ADU.
How much does an ADU cost in Scottsdale?
ADU construction in Scottsdale typically costs $160,000-$320,000. Garage conversions run $80,000-$165,000, and prefab ADUs cost $155,000-$300,000.
How much can I rent an ADU for in Scottsdale?
Average ADU rents in Scottsdale are $1,650-$2,250/mo for a 1-bedroom and $1,950-$2,600/mo for a 2-bedroom unit.
Do I need parking for an ADU in Scottsdale?
No added parking for the ADU; the parking required for the main house must be maintained at all times (Sec. 7.900). ARS 9-461.18(B)(3) bars the city from requiring extra spaces or an in-lieu fee. A garage conversion therefore has to keep the house's required spaces elsewhere on the lot; confirm the replacement layout at the pre-application meeting.. Check with Scottsdale planning department for the latest Arizona ADU parking rules, as many states have relaxed requirements in recent years.
How long does it take to get an ADU permit in Scottsdale?
Scottsdale does not publish a standard ADU review timeline. No ADU-specific figure is published. Residential Plan Review targets 7 business days for the administrative completeness check and 15 business days for substantive review per cycle; the pre-application meeting is usually scheduled within a week. Allow for at least one correction cycle. Permit fees: FY2026/27 schedule (Res. 13661, from July 1, 2026): pre-application $131, ADU staff-approval review $131, permit $237 base plus $0.94/sq ft livable and $0.54/sq ft covered, plan review $0.54 and $0.34/sq ft, CO $195, GIS $379: about $1,800 for 500 sq ft, $2,550 for 1,000 sq ft.
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