Detached accessory dwelling unit (DADU) rules
Summary
The council is finalizing how big a backyard ADU can be: keep the lot-coverage cap, keep the 'no bigger than your house footprint' rule, and cap living area at 1,250 sq ft (some wanted smaller, one wanted 1,500 on big lots). Residents told the council proposed 30-foot setbacks would make ADUs impossible on typical lots.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 4
- Last 30 days
- 0
Last discussed Sep 1, 2026.
Impact analysis
Size limits affect what homeowners can build or rent; setbacks could make ADUs infeasible on many lots.
Homeowners wanting space for extended family, if standards allow it.
Owners of large existing garages or small lots who may not qualify under the combined limits.
Mentions & discussions (4)
City Council — September 1, 2026
After about three years of work, Highland adopted rules allowing backyard cottages on large lots while keeping the R-140 feel: home setbacks, height and size caps, owner occupancy, and no separate sale. The council will review how the rules perform in about a year.
City Council — August 18, 2026
The council is finalizing how big a backyard ADU can be: keep the lot-coverage cap, keep the 'no bigger than your house footprint' rule, and cap living area at 1,250 sq ft (some wanted smaller, one wanted 1,500 on big lots). Residents told the council proposed 30-foot setbacks would make ADUs impossible on typical lots.
City Council — August 4, 2026
State law forces cities to allow backyard cottages. The council leaned toward home setbacks with a single-story break, a 25-foot height cap, and will tackle unit size next meeting.
Planning Commission. — May 26, 2026
The detached ADU rules are still in limbo — the council wants more time and will hold a workshop, likely in July, plus another public hearing before deciding anything on the commission's recommendation.
We'll email you when it's on an upcoming agenda and when it's voted on, at most once a day.
The weekly brief for Highland
What the council decided, in plain English — one email a week.
Free. Unsubscribe with one click any time. We never sell your email.