2026-09-15 · housing
Tucson mulls permanent relaxing of homeless shelter codes halfway through temporary housing emergency
Tucson's Planning and Development Services Department began the first of five public meetings on making permanent the shelter-friendly zoning changes adopted under the city's February housing and homelessness emergency declaration, which expires next February. City planner Amanda Smith said churches and nonprofits interested in opening shelters have made little progress even under the loosened rules, citing scarce viable sites and limited funding. Staff plan to draft zoning code amendments after the meetings conclude in October, with adoption targeted by spring.
The February emergency declaration shortened the shelter-approval process from several years to about six months; Tucson opened its first sanctioned encampment, STAR Village, in October 2025.