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Plymouth, Richfield, Roseville, Stillwater, Shoreview, St. Louis Park, St. Paul, Wayzata, and White Bear Lake. Minneapolis had the most permissive and active ADU program in the region, with approximately 120 units permitted and built, no minimum parking requirements, and no owner -occupancy requirement for attached or detached ADUs. Edina, Crystal, and St. Louis Park also adopted relatively flexible frameworks that allow all ADU types with minimal parking requirements.35 Despite broad policy adoption, actual ADU production remained limited across most metro cities. Many communities had zero or very few built units, reflecting the chilling effect of restrictive provisions such as large minimum lot sizes, mandatory owner occupancy, conditional use permit requirements, high parking standards, and small maximum size limits. Burnsville had zero ADUs built despite having a policy; Bloomington had one constructed; Apple Valley had two. Nationally, the APA survey found that more than 60 percent of jurisdictions explicitly permitted new ADUs in their zoning ordinance, yet only a quarter permitted at least one ADU by right on any conforming single-family lot. More than half of jurisdictions that permit ADUs still require owner -occupancy and minimum off-street parking two of the most common production barriers identified in research.36 Roseville permits attached and internal ADUs in its Low Density Residential-1 district,. That district, requires owner occupancy, limits ADU size to 650 square feet or 75% of the four -season living area, requires one additional off-street parking space, and caps occupancy at two people. As of 2019, five ADUs had been built with two more in process. Compared to Minneapolis, Edina, Crystal, and St. Louis Park, Roseville's prohibition on detached ADUs, owner -occupancy requirement, and restrictive size cap place it in the more conservative tier among metro -area cities. Attachment A shows regulations adopted by a subset of Minnesota communities, current as of 2023. Most recently early this month, the City of Blaine published revised ordinance language removing detached ADUs as an allowed use and amended language permitting attached ADUs with standards.37 Potential next steps Accessory dwelling units represent one of the most cost-effective, equitable, and community - compatible tools available to cities seeking to expand housing choice, address affordability pressures, and accommodate demographic change. The evidence from peer cities nationally and in Minnesota demonstrates that thoughtful, permissive ADU policies supported by public information and financial assistance — can meaningfully increase housing production without public subsidy.38 To craft an ordinance appropriate for Arden Hills, Councilmembers should consider where and whether the following should be regulated: • Location(s) within the city and/or specific zoning districts • Lot size • Number • Height • Number of occupants/residents • Parking 35 Family Housing Fund (2019). 36 AARP/APA (2023). 37 ORD 26-2601 Ordinance Approving Amendments to Residential Sections and Performance Standards (https://www.blainemn.gov/m/newsflash/Home/Detail/3817) (accessed March 2026) 38 AARP Home and Community Preferences Survey, November 2021 (Binette 2021). Page 6 of 8