Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are smaller, independent residential dwelling units located on the same property as a single-unit home, and can be attached or detached from the main house. ADUs have been identified as one component of the “missing middle” which helps increase housing options in Wheat Ridge. This ordinance proposes to legalize ADUs as an accessory use to single-unit homes, while providing flexibility for homeowners in terms of design, location, and development standards. This ordinance is a response to specific policy direction from City Council based on staff presentations, public feedback, and lessons learned from peer communities. In addition to providing a regulatory pathway forward for new ADUs, the ordinance alsocreates a pathway in certain circumstances for existing ADUs to be legalized.