Asheville City Council - August 25th Meeting
August 31, 2026
At Asheville’s City Council meeting of Tuesday, August 25, 2026, the council unanimously approved three amendments to our zoning code: Duplexes in all residential zones Larger ADUs Elimination of…
At Asheville’s City Council meeting of Tuesday, August 25, 2026, the council unanimously approved three amendments to our zoning code:
- Duplexes in all residential zones
- Larger ADUs
- Elimination of parking minimums
These small, but meaningful changes have been a long time coming, and we’re celebrating that they finally got over the goal line. You can read our letter of support prior to the vote here.
All three amendments will make it easier to build the infill housing we desperately need, but let’s dig into some details.
Duplexes Allowed Throughout All Residential Neighborhoods
Outcome: Approved
Votes:
In favor: Esther E. Manheimer, S. Antanette Mosley, Kim Roney, Maggie Ullman, Sheneika Smith, Bo Hess, Sage Turner
The first reform is a de facto abolition of single-family zoning.
This is an important first step toward undoing the destructive and exclusionary history of using zoning as a facade to keep out anyone who can’t afford the price of admission.
As noted during the meeting, about half of all of Asheville’s residential land was zoned single-family-only, so this effectively doubles the maximum density of half of the city’s zoned land area (from 51% to 92%). Also included in this amendment is an allowance for “townhoming” a duplex. In other words, a duplex can be split into two lots, allowing new opportunities for homeownership that working people can afford.
This slide from the August 25th Asheville City Council meeting shows how new zoning code changes will allow a side-by-side duplex to be sited on two different lots. Source: City of Asheville
Larger ADUs
Outcome: Approved
Votes:
In favor: Esther E. Manheimer, S. Antanette Mosley, Kim Roney, Maggie Ullman, Sheneika Smith, Bo Hess, Sage Turner
Current rules allow ADUs that are “70% of the primary structure’s gross floor area or 800 square feet (whichever is less)”. The new rule is simpler, and allows for larger ADUs on average: it just has to be smaller than the main structure, with a maximum of 1,000 square feet. The new rules also allow for an ADU on a lot with a duplex (effectively increasing all residential zones to allow for at least three units!).
There are two wrinkles with these ADU updates.
