Madison County leaders say that people can live in RVs or campers in the county on a temporary basis if they follow certain guidelines.
County commissioners amended the county zoning ordinance Feb. 6 with a section for “recreational vehicles as a temporary residence.”
The board approved the guidelines by a 4-1 vote, with Commissioner Mike Youngblood providing the lone “no.”
Last month, zoning board chairman Wayne Douglas presented commissioners with proposed recreational vehicle home guidelines, but the board failed to act on the proposal, citing numerous concerns.
For instance, board members wanted to know how taxes would be paid on such homes, what constitutes a livable camper, how many people could live in such a dwelling and whether such a move by the board open the door for a massive influx of people in campers.
Douglas said told commissioners that the zoning board took the BOC’s concerns into consideration and amended the original proposal to specify that such residences must be on a “temporary” basis and must have BOC approval for any extended stays.
The planning chairman noted last month that the RV guidelines are a way to provide some oversight of something that is already happening in the county and a way to show compassion to those who are struggling financially.
“This is giving opportunities to people who can have other people help them,” said Douglas in January. Youngblood asked Douglas whether any restrictions would be set on the number of people living in a recreational vehicle. Douglas said that was not addressed in the guidelines.
Code enforcement officer Jack Huff questioned whether RVs or campers must have current tags. And Douglas said that current tags are necessary to move any recreational vehicle on roads.
Richard Bennett took the podium to ask commissioners to consider looking at abandoned mobile home lots as a place for financially strapped people to take up residence, noting that “having them sit empty is not doing anybody any good.” He said infrastructure is already in place on such lots.
No action was taken on Bennett’s suggestion.
RV, camper dwelling guidelines:
Here are new guidelines for recreational vehicles used as a temporary residence in Madison County:
•The RV or camper must be connected to a utility pole with approval by the planning and zoning department and building inspection and it must be connected by a septic system (with approval from the health department) and water must be supplied by a potable water hose.
•An application must be made to the Madison County Planning and Zoning Office for a temporary housing hardship permit, which, if granted, is good for a six-month period. Subsequent applications may be made for extensions of the permit to the Madison County Board of Commissioners. Each such extension is good for an additional six months.
•Only one RV may be located on a single tract.
•A permit may be granted in an R-1 zone only if the lot has a minimum of 1.5 acres, in an R-R zone only if the lot has a minimum of four acres and in an A-2 or A-1 zone only if the lot has a minimum of 10 acres.
•The owner of the property must occupy the main dwelling on the property.
•The RV must be located a minimum of 20 feet from all other structures on the lot and must meet the required setbacks from property lines.
•The RV may not be used as rental property, the intent of this section being only to allow occupancy of an RV as a residence where necessitated by financial hardship and the charging of rent to the occupants being inconsistent with this purpose.
•The requirements of this section do no apply if the RV is occupied for less than 30 total days in a 12-month period.
