Commissioners, staff discuss limits on building garages that are converted to residences
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Summary
County officials discussed a recurring issue: unpermitted garage/shop construction later converted to living space. Officials said permits for a shop with living area are permitted if inspected, but concerns remain about covert conversions and lack of certificates of occupancy.
County commissioners and staff discussed homeowner complaints and zoning limits on building a shop or garage that is later converted to a residence on vacant lots during the Sept. 9 meeting. Commissioners said the issue has a long history, with the restriction in place at times since the 1990s and reinstated after prior abuses.
A commissioner explained the rationale: garages are not built to the same standards as single-family residences and can be converted post-inspection to an occupied dwelling without appropriate code oversight. "...there were structures built that were essentially a garage and then converted to single family homes after inspection because of the housing shortage," a commissioner said, noting that uninspected conversions create title and safety issues.
Staff clarified that applicants may pull a permit for a shop that includes living area and obtain inspections and a certificate of occupancy if the structure is constructed and inspected to residential standards. County staff also confirmed that the county allows limited temporary camping or living while building in certain circumstances (for example, during an active permitted build).
Why it matters: The discussion affects property owners, neighbors, building-safety enforcement and real-estate transactions; improper conversions can create safety risks and legal/title complications.
Next steps: Commissioners and staff noted the matter will remain under consideration; the transcript excerpts do not show a regulatory change or new ordinance adoption during the recorded portion of the meeting.