Does Mohave County, AZ have its own adu rules ordinance?

No. Mohave County, AZ does not appear to have a local adu rules ordinance, Arizona state law applies instead. The rules summarized on this page come from Arizona Revised Statutes.

Key Facts Ordinance Text Full Breakdown Violations FAQ Sources More in Mohave County

Mohave County, AZ Accessory Structures: ADU Rules (2026)

Few Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

ADU rules in Mohave County, AZ, also called accessory dwelling unit regulations or granny flat ordinances, cover setbacks, owner-occupancy, parking, and permit requirements.

Key Facts

County Law: Ordinance 2025-06
How Many: One attached, one detached
Over One Acre: Extra detached unit allowed
Size Cap: 75% of primary (under 5 acres)
State HB 2720: Cities 75,000+ only, none here

ADU Eligibility Quick-Check

An Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) is a smaller, independent living unit on the same lot as a single-family home: converted garages, detached cottages, basement or attic conversions, and attached additions all qualify. Most states have streamlined ADU permitting since 2020, but local rules still control size, height, and setback.

Is your lot zoned single-family or multi-family residential?
Does your lot have at least 1,200 sq ft of buildable space?
Is your existing home owner-occupied (in most states this is not required, but some require it for ADU permits)?
Will the ADU stay under your state's size cap (commonly 850-1,200 sq ft for detached)?
Can you provide one off-street parking space (waived in many states within 0.5 mi of transit)?

If you answered 'yes' to most of these, you likely qualify in Arizona under recent ADU streamlining laws. The Mohave County, AZ rules below cover local size, height, and setback requirements.

Summary

Under Mohave County Ordinance 2025-06, any property that allows a single-family home may add one attached and one detached accessory residence, with an extra detached unit on lots over one acre. This is county zoning, not the state HB 2720 municipal law.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Mohave County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

one (1) attached and one (1) detached accessory residence for any property that allows a single-family residence

Source: Arizona Revised StatutesView official code

Full Breakdown

Mohave County broadly allows accessory dwellings on residential land. Ordinance 2025-06 permits one attached and one detached accessory residence on any property zoned for a single-family home, plus an additional detached unit on lots larger than one acre. On lots under five acres, an accessory residence is capped at 75 percent of the primary home's size, extendable with a Special Use Permit. A primary residence must be built or at least permitted first. Arizona's statewide ADU law, HB 2720 (A.R.S. §9-461.18), applies only to municipalities of 75,000 or more people and does not reach unincorporated county land or any Mohave city, since Lake Havasu City, Bullhead City, and Kingman all fall below that threshold.

Violations & Fines

Building or occupying an accessory residence without a building permit is a code violation subject to stop-work orders and after-the-fact permitting. A unit exceeding the 75 percent size cap without a Special Use Permit is non-compliant.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I build a casita or guest house?

Yes. Ordinance 2025-06 lets a single-family property add one attached and one detached accessory residence, with an extra detached unit over one acre, after the main home is permitted.

Does Arizona's HB 2720 apply here?

No. That state law only requires cities of 75,000 or more to allow ADUs. Mohave's cities are all smaller, and unincorporated land follows county Ordinance 2025-06 instead.

Sources & Official References

[1]Arizona Revised Statutes

Other rules in Mohave County

Parking Rules: Street Parking LimitsSome Restrictions Noise Ordinances: Quiet HoursSome Restrictions Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash LawsSome Restrictions Shed & Carport RulesFew Restrictions Noise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor SoundSome Restrictions Noise Ordinances: Barking DogsSome Restrictions Animal Ordinances: Breed RestrictionsFew Restrictions

All Mohave County rules

How Mohave County compares: Easiest Cities to Build an ADU·Compare Mohave County to another location·View the Arizona accessory structures overview

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