AR SB456

Local governments cannot establish aesthetic design requirements for homes, garages, or secondary dwelling units unless necessary for public health, safety, or structural integrity—prohibited requirements include mandating specific architectural styles, exterior materials like brick or stone, or landscaping styles

Zones allowing single-family homes must also permit duplexes statewide, and first-class and second-class cities must additionally allow triplexes and quadplexes on single-family lots with no additional restrictions beyond standard setback and height rules

Property owners may add attached or detached secondary dwelling units (including mobile tiny homes under 500 sq. ft.) to single-family lots without owner-occupancy requirements, and permits must be approved within 30 days or deemed automatically granted

Permit fees over $500 are presumptively excessive, dwelling unit permits are deemed approved if not denied within 60 days, and no more than 2 hearings may be required for building permits or variances

Home occupations are allowed without permits in residential zones unless they create a nuisance, and local governments cannot prohibit customer visits, on-site inventory storage, or up to 2 non-resident employees working at the home business