Tiny House Ordinance Moves Forward

BRADENTON – Manatee County is closer to allowing "accessory dwelling units," but a final decision by the county commission won't come until after the newly-elected board is seated on November 17.

ADUs are small attached or stand-alone units that are added to an existing property's footprint and utility infrastructure in order to provide additional density. The county has been looking at defining them for several years.

County staff and some commissioners see this as a way to add low-cost rentals ideal for seniors and students to an inventory notoriously short on them–provided they don't have a negative impact on existing neighborhoods, particularly with regard to parking. There is, however, a consensus that the significant cost of constructing one will prohibit their proliferation.

The board discussed the issue a little over a year ago but got bogged down over size limitations, which had been limited at 1,000 s.f. Staff came back in August with a recommendation of 500 s.f. maximum with a full kitchen and bathroom facilities and a single off-street parking space required, though some commissioners thought 650-750 s.f. would be more appropriate.

As presented at a land-use meeting Thursday, the allowable size would now depend on the primary home's zoning. In residential, single-family neighborhoods, commissioners felt that the maximum size should be between 650 and 750 square feet, while staff is recommending a limit of 1,000 square feet in instances where the property is zoned agricultural.

However, because three newly-elected commissioners will be seated before the final draft is presented at a December 10 land use meeting, the consensus could shift.

The City of Bradenton already has ADU guidelines, which limit the units to 1,000 square feet or 80 percent of the main property, whichever is smaller. Sarasota limits ADUs to 750 square feet maximum. ADUs would replace guest houses in the land development code.