City of Tucson asking for public input on homeless shelter zoning changes

Tucson residents could see more homeless shelters open in neighborhoods across the city if proposed zoning changes move forward. The city is asking for public feedback on rules that currently limit where shelters can operate and make it more difficult to create new beds. The changes matter to people who live near potential shelter sites, as well as to residents experiencing homelessness, because the city says Tucson does not have enough shelter space to meet current demand.

The effort follows Mayor and Council’s declaration of a housing and homelessness emergency in February 2026. The declaration lasts for one year and allows the Planning and Development Services Department to consider adjustments to zoning and permitting requirements. City officials say those rules can slow the creation of emergency shelters or prevent them from operating in many parts of Tucson. The department is now collecting comments before developing proposed code amendments.

The need is significant. Data from the Tucson Pima Collaboration to End Homelessness indicates the city needs about 1,500 additional shelter beds. The collaboration’s Point in Time count found roughly 1,200 people sleeping outside on a single night, according to city officials. Sarah Meggison, a planning manager with Planning and Development Services, said that figure is likely a substantial undercount. She estimated that at least 2,000 people are experiencing homelessness on a typical night, while Tucson has only about 700 shelter beds available.

The city is considering several possible changes. Those include reducing parking requirements, changing the required distance between a shelter and a property boundary, adjusting limits on how many people may occupy a facility, and allowing shelters to be located closer together. Officials say the proposal is intended to make it possible to open facilities more quickly and in more areas of Tucson. The city is also examining design standards, effects on surrounding neighborhoods and how residents should be notified about proposed facilities.

Meggison said current zoning rules do not reflect the way shelters operate today. She pointed to the need for facilities that can serve families, rather than focusing only on people who arrive individually, along with more flexibility in how shelters are organized. The city hopes to create more facilities similar to the Wildcat Inn shelter, but with fewer procedural obstacles. The approach is also being informed by practices in parts of California, where the number of shelter beds is tied to the results of the Point in Time count.

The possible changes have raised concerns among some residents. April Bundrick, a Tucson resident who lives with her young child, said she is worried that shelters in residential areas could affect neighborhood safety. She questioned what it would mean for children walking to school if they had to pass a shelter on the way. Her concerns reflect the broader debate the city is trying to address, balancing the need for additional shelter with questions about neighborhood impacts, facility design, location and day to day operations.

Tucson has already held a series of in person public feedback sessions. Additional opportunities are planned, including one in person meeting and one virtual meeting during the month. The city also plans to present information at Park Place Mall during the first weekend of October. The listed mall event is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 3, from noon to 4 p.m. Residents seeking meeting details or RSVP information can check the Planning and Development Services website.

The city’s online survey remains open through Sunday, Oct. 25. Residents can use it to comment on the potential zoning changes, including shelter design standards, neighborhood effects and notification procedures. Written comments can also be sent by email to Amanda.Smith@tucsonaz.gov. The feedback will help planning officials refine the proposed amendments before the city moves further through the process. The emergency declaration gives officials a limited period to pursue these adjustments, making the public comment period an important step for both supporters and opponents.

The shelter zoning discussion is unfolding alongside the annual homeless count organized by the Tucson Pima Collaboration to End Homelessness. The collaboration is seeking volunteers for that effort, which helps measure homelessness and guide planning for services and shelter capacity. For Tucson, the count and the zoning review are connected: the count provides an estimate of need, while the zoning changes could determine how easily the city and service providers can respond. Residents are being asked to weigh in on how that response should take shape in the communities where shelters may eventually be located.