Stephens County planning commission ends tiny homes discussion, county later tightens accessory structure rules

In February 2025 the Stephens County Planning Commission began discussing whether to allow tiny homes in the county and directed staff to look into how other communities handle them. The discussion continued in March, when a commissioner suggested a called meeting or work session to work out what tiny homes would look like locally.

The commission held that called work session on April 1, 2025, and asked staff to research codes and the permitting process for tiny homes, with possible site visits to follow.

By January 2026 the Planning Commission had concluded its discussion of tiny homes. At the same meeting, members also took up separate ordinance matters, including changes for lakefront accessory structures and initial thoughts on a data center ordinance.

The county went on to update its land use ordinance on accessory structures. The Planning Commission recommended cutting the maximum accessory structure height in RS Districts from 50 feet to 25 feet, and the Board of Commissioners held a public hearing and first reading on the broader ordinance changes, which also included a limit of no more than three accessory buildings on any RS-zoned lot.

On April 28, 2026, the Board of Commissioners unanimously adopted a resolution updating the accessory structures provisions of the Stephens County Land Use Ordinance.