8. Discussion on tiny houses
From: Jan G. Hogle
Sent: Monday, September 12, 2022 12:08 PM
To: Kenneth Cammilleri
Cc: b.eklund
Subject: Tiny houses
Hi Ken,
Fellow commissioners have expressed a desire to discuss tiny homes and how they do or do
not fit into our ordinances. If memory serves, I believe Washington county proclaimed a few
years back that tiny homes would not be allowed in the county. It seems these might be a
useful consideration for tiny lots, and as such it is a current topic of concern for places like
Duluth, per the linked article below.
Could we have a discussion or review of this topic in an upcoming mtg with regard to
whether they are allowed or not, and whether they should be allowed or not?
https://www.wdio.com/front-page/top-stories/tiny-homes-coming-to-duluths-hillside/
Thank you.
Jan
_________________________________________________________________________
From: Kenneth Cammilleri
Sent: Monday, September 12, 2022 5:23 PM
To: Jan G. Hogle
Cc: b.eklund
Subject: Re: Tiny houses
Jan,
We will add this to the agenda. However, tiny homes ARE permissible within Scandia. In fact,
one is in the works at XXX Manning Trl N, as we speak.
Currently, the City allows principal dwellings to have a minimum width of 20 feet on a
permanently affixed to a foundation. (There is no zoning minimum floor area.) It must just
have septage service in accordance with the County's SSTS requirements.
Accessory Dwelling Units offer even greater flexibility, as these do not have a minimum 20 foot
width rule, and only a 1,000 foot maximum floor area limit with no zoning minimum.
This means minimums are more dictated by state building codes. See
https://www.dli.mn.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/tiny_houses.pdf
We still ban recreational vehicle style tiny houses, aka tiny houses on axles. I am assuming
because that these are generally not eligible to be taxable personal property. Or in other
words, the types of tiny homes designed to be recreational vehicles offer no additional taxable
value.
Please let us know if you need anything else.
Sincerely,
Ken
Ken Cammilleri | City Administrator
City of Scandia
14727 209th Street N, Scandia, MN 55073
P 651.433.2274| C 651.245.2654 | F 651.433.5112
k.cammilleri@ci.scandia.mn.us
www.cityofscandia.com