Commissioners discuss lowering acreage requirement for rural homebuilding; zoning amendment required

Commissioners discussed whether to reduce the county’s five‑acre minimum for rural single‑family dwellings after a county housing committee said many prospective homeowners find five acres unaffordable and burdensome to maintain.

Why it matters: the acreage requirement affects where and how new rural housing can be developed and could influence the county’s ability to attract new residents if lot costs remain high.

At the meeting, members of the housing committee said smaller lots (one to two acres) would make building more affordable for some households. Planning staff (Sandy) told commissioners the state requires about 40,000 square feet (roughly one acre) for on‑site septic systems and that the county’s subdivision rules — drawn from the Century Code — govern lot splits and limit how many unrecorded splits are allowed. Sandy said subdivisions can allow one‑acre lots when lots are created through the formal subdivision process.

Commissioners noted trade‑offs: allowing smaller lots outside subdivisions could increase scattered development; creating planned subdivisions with smaller lots imposes survey and subdivision costs. Commissioners agreed any change would require an amendment to the zoning ordinance, review by the planning and zoning board, and public hearings. Staff also suggested waiting to see possible state tax credit legislation (referred to in the meeting as “11 76”) before designing local tax incentives.

Ending: The board directed staff to consult with planning and zoning and return options for possible ordinance amendments, including the implications for septic requirements, subdivision rules, and school and other taxing entities.