Santa Fe, NM Accessory Structures: ADU Rules (2026)

3(D)(1) treats an accessory dwelling unit on residentially zoned property as exempt from the density restrictions elsewhere in Chapter 14, but caps the trade-off at one ADU per legal lot of record, and the exemption does not override any private covenant that restricts ADUs. Size is limited to whichever is smaller: the gross floor area of the principal dwelling unit or 1,500 square feet. 2-1. Every ADU must also meet the design standards that apply to the lot generally, including any Section 14-5 overlay district rules, so an ADU in a historic district still has to clear Historic Districts review.

6, but the code lets an abutting legal on-street parking space count toward that requirement if the street carries no residential parking permit restriction, measures at least 35 feet curb to curb, and has no posted no-parking restriction; that on-street space cannot be reserved for the property and stays open to the general public. 2(A)(5), but not both at the same time, while a non-owner-occupant landlord may rent either or both units only for stays of 30 days or more. An ADU cannot be subdivided or sold separately from the principal dwelling unit unless it independently meets every requirement for a principal dwelling unit.