Pima County, AZ Accessory Structures: ADU Owner Occupancy (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Pima County Code § 18.09.020.U.10
- Trigger
- Property has an ADU
- Requirement
- Owner must reside on-site
- Applies to
- Rentals of 30 days or less
Summary
If a Pima County property in the unincorporated area has an accessory dwelling unit, the owner must live there to legally rent it out short-term for stays of 30 days or less.
The owner of a vacation rental or short-term rental of thirty days or less must reside on the property if the property contains an accessory dwelling unit.
11. No additional parking is required for accessory dwelling units to accommodate an accessory dwelling unit.
12. All Pima County Code regulations still apply, including, but not
limited to, Protected Peaks ( 18.61), Hillside Development Zone ( 18.61), Historic Preservation ( 18.63), Grading Limits ( 18.61), Native Plant Preservation ( 18.72), Buffer Overlay Zone (
18.67), Pima County Flood Control District requirements, and Scenic Routes.
13. This section does not apply to lots or parcels that are located on tribal land, on land in the territory in the vicinity of a military airport or ancillary military facility as defined in A.R.S. Section 28-8461, on land in the territory in the vicinity of a federal aviation administration commercially licensed airport or a general aviation airport or on land in the territory in the vicinity of a public airport as defined in A.R.S. Section 28-8486 that has a noise level of greater than sixty-five decibels. (Ord. 2025-27 § 2, 2025; Ord. 2025- 8 § 2, 2025; Ord. 2023-19 § 1, 2023; Ord.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-64: Contains Supplement, with local legislation through Ordinance 2026-9, passed 7-28-2026, current through 7-28-2026).
Full Breakdown
Pima County Code § 18.09.020.U.10, part of the county's Accessory Dwelling Unit standards for unincorporated land, requires the property owner to reside on-site whenever the parcel contains an ADU and is being rented as a vacation or short-term rental of 30 days or less. The rule only reaches unincorporated Pima County; Tucson, Marana, Oro Valley, Sahuarita and South Tucson set their own separate zoning standards for accessory dwelling units and short-term rentals within city limits.
Violations & Fines
Renting an ADU-equipped property short-term without living there breaches § 18.09.020.U.10; Pima County can pursue a civil zoning violation with penalties up to $750 per day under § 18.95.040.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to live at my Pima County property to rent my ADU short-term?
Does the owner-occupancy rule apply if I don't have an ADU?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pima County
Compare Pima County to another location·View the Arizona accessory structures overview
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