In a move that proponents say will lower housing construction costs, members of the Arizona State Legislature are reviewing a bill that would greatly reduce the say of local governments in the design of houses.
Senate Bill 1431, if passed, would put a halt to local governments being able to determine the exterior color of a house, slant of the structure’s roof, or configuration or style of a window, among other things.
In comments discussing the legislation, Republican Senate President Warren Petersen said recent home construction in the Grand Canyon State has led to the advent of “cities that start looking monolithic.”
“Everything starts looking exactly the same because they’re all following the same design standards,” continued the lawmaker.
As written, the bill states that a “municipality may not interfere with a home buyer’s right to choose the features, amenities, structure, floor plan, and interior and exterior design of a home.”
The proposed legislation has spirited comments on what constitutes an attractive house, with doubts raised that the look of a house will have any impact on its price one way or the other. Remarked Democrat Senator Brian Fernandez: “People will have cheaper looking houses.”
Added Fernandez: “I just don’t think they’re going to have cheaper houses.”
The measure has now passed passed the Arizona Senate on a 17 to 12 vote and has been transmitted to the House for review.
March 5, 2026
By Garry Boulard
Photo courtesy of Pixabay
