RESIDENTIAL HOME BUILDING AUTHORIZATION

This New Mexico bill amends zoning laws to allow accessory dwelling units (ADUs, like backyard cottages) on residential lots and permits multifamily housing (such as duplexes) in commercial areas near transit stops. It requires local governments to permit at least one ADU per residential lot (up to 1,000 sq ft, with specific setbacks), prohibits owner-occupancy rules or extra fees for ADUs, and allows multifamily housing within a quarter-mile of transit hubs or in commercial zones. Homeowners, developers, and local governments are directly affected as they must adjust to these new zoning standards. The law aims to increase housing options by expanding permitted development types without requiring new zoning changes.