SCBC advise staff to move forward with amending building code ordinance to include minimum square footage requirement

The Stephens County Board of Commissioners have instructed County staff to move forward and begin the adoption process for amending the Building Code Ordinance.

During the recent Commissioner meeting, Commissioner Michelle Ivester recommended the board authorize staff to begin the process for adding a minimum square footage to the building code.

Ivester says she feels 650 square feet should be the minimum square footage allowed; but also, suggested banning residents living in storage buildings.

“I’m still good with the 650 minimum square footage and to ban storage buildings to be used as homes,” she said.

Commissioner James Addison agreed with Ivester; however, he says he has no problem with tiny houses.

“I also agree with that if you go with 650 and that tiny homes are approved,” he said.

County Administrator Phyllis Ayers says tiny homes are part of the Georgia Code.

“The tiny homes are part of the Georgia Code that we have already adopted,” Ayers said. “So, if it truly meets a tiny home specification then there’s no issue with the tiny homes.”

Ivester said part of the problem is that residents will purchase storage buildings and call them tiny homes.

“Well, I was going to say, the problem around here, especially in rural Georgia, is that you’re seeing people buying storage buildings and calling them tiny homes,” Ivester said.

County Attorney Brian Ranck explained that tiny houses have specific requirements and guidelines that are separate from a storage building.

“There’s a specific definition for a tiny home. That’s what I was going to say, I was going to caution the board today, like I did the last meeting, to avoid blurring this question with the tiny home question, because like Phyllis said, those have specific laws and regulations and definitions so I think we can distinguish those pretty easily,” Ranck said.

No motion was made during Tuesday’s meeting.

Before the County can amend the ordinance, two public hearings must be held.

WNEG News will continue to follow this story and bring you additional details as they become available.