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Chandler, AZ Accessory Structures: Garage Conversions (2026)

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

Garage conversion rules in Chandler, AZ, sometimes called garage-to-ADU or accessory living unit conversions, govern permits, ceiling height, egress, and parking replacement.

Key Facts

Number allowed
One attached plus one detached
Maximum size
75% of house or 1,000 sq ft
Rear/side setback
Five feet minimum
Extra parking
Cannot be required
Governing section
Code § 35-2202.2 (Ord. 5113)

Summary

Chandler allows one attached and one detached accessory dwelling unit by right on any lot where a single-family dwelling is the principal use. Each ADU is capped at 75 percent of the house gross floor area or 1,000 square feet, whichever is less.

A maximum of one attached and one detached accessory dwelling unit shall be permitted. An accessory dwelling unit shall not exceed seventy-five (75) percent of the gross floor area of the existing single-family dwelling or one thousand (1,000) square feet, whichever is less.

Source: Chandler City Code § 35-2202.2 (Accessory dwelling units)View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 79).

Full Breakdown

Chandler Code § 35-2202.2, adopted by Ordinance 5113 on December 9, 2024 to implement A.R.S. § 9-461.18, permits one attached and one detached accessory dwelling unit on any lot where a single-family dwelling is the principal use. A third detached unit is allowed on a lot of one acre or more if one unit is deed-restricted affordable. Each unit is limited to 75 percent of the primary dwelling gross floor area or 1,000 square feet, whichever is less. Rear and side setbacks are no less than five feet, and height follows the zoning district. No additional parking may be required. The 15-foot cap and one-accessory-building rule in § 35-2202 expressly do not apply to accessory dwelling units.

Violations & Fines

Building an accessory dwelling unit without a permit is a code violation. The unit must also meet the five-foot rear and side setbacks and the size cap in § 35-2202.2.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many ADUs can I build in Chandler?
One attached and one detached, by right, on any lot where a single-family dwelling is the principal use. A third detached unit is allowed on an acre or more if one is deed-restricted affordable.
Can I rent my Chandler ADU short-term?
Chandler's zoning code no longer bans it. The old ADU short-term-rental prohibition was removed when Ordinance 5113 rewrote the rules in December 2024. A city short-term rental license still applies.
How tall can an ADU be?
It follows the building height limit of the underlying zoning district. The 15-foot cap applies to accessory buildings such as garages and workshops, not to accessory dwelling units.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Chandler

All Chandler rules

Compare Chandler to another location·View the Arizona accessory structures overview

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