Blue Ridge, Ga – Board of Commissioners approved to extend the moratorium on tiny home subdivisions for another year.

The existing moratorium will stand through July 2020 after an extensive discussion on the topic with the community.

“You can look all over North Georgia, and I think every county have looked at this a little differently,” stated Chairman Stan Helton, “My personal concern is basically the subdivision. There’s certainly nothing wrong if you’re on your own property, if you want to put a private tiny home on your property, that’s not my concern, but the subdivision is.”

Tiny Homes are typically around 450 square feet.

Input came from those on both sides of the issue and local builders as to the benefits and detriments of tiny home subdivisions.

Keith Sumner represented builders in the county and presented the number of homes built in Fannin from February 2018 to 2019, only 15 homes were under 1,000 square feet with the majority being between 1,500 and 3,500 square feet. Currently, Fannin County has under a 100 foundation built tiny homes.

Collectively these projects brought an estimated $75M into the county.

Sumner also questioned the future value of a tiny homes subdivision, would it increase or decrease in value over time.

Other voices in the audience echoed the need for affordable housing in the community and that millennials and retirees don’t want a big house. Millennials want a place to rest their head and to make traveling easier, and retirees bring grandkids on the weekend.

Also, service workers and recent graduates need somewhere to live that they afford, and tiny homes could be the answer.  These individuals can’t live in large homes being built.

The biggest concern surrounding tiny home subdivisions was the potential for central septic system problems for developers who don’t follow the building code.

Currently, Fannin recommends .55 acres for central septic, but the health department will go down to a third of an acre. With tiny homes being around 450 square feet, it’s possible someone could fit three homes onto one acre. This would stress a septic system.

“Three tiny homes on one acre lots on a 40-acre tract that’s going to be a headache from now own,” stated Post One Commissioner Earl Johnson, “If something’s not done to protect the county, they can come in here in about a month, month and a half, throw three tiny homes up on the same sewage system, the neighbors are going to have a problem. Now, I am a tiny homeowner, but it’s on 46-acres of land, and no one knows where it is. It’s not hurting anyone’s property values.”

The profit incentive for building multiple homes close together could lead to fly-by-night developments. With no zoning, it’s difficult to prevent this from happening and more thought must be given before lifting the tiny home subdivision moratorium.

Gilmer County’s tiny home subdivision has received mixed reviews with some residents loving the community and others begging to get out. Potential problems need to be clearly defined and gear an ordinance toward a tiny home subdivision that promotes the future of Fannin County.

Johnson added, “If we start allowing to get down to a third of an acre, it’s going to be just like an RV park.”

After hearing from those in attendance, the commissioners agreed that a resolution that works for the majority of the community needs to be reached. However, with one serious inquiry over the past year, extending the moratorium gives commissioners time to examine the housing market and develop a solution a year from now.