Will County committee debates 'tiny homes' versus accessory dwelling units; leans toward clearer ADU rules while limiting RV-style tiny homes

Will County’s Land Use and Development Committee spent a lengthy portion of its meeting discussing whether to alter county rules for so-called "tiny homes," echo housing and accessory dwelling units (ADUs).

The committee did not take action, but members signaled they want clearer language and a policy path that differentiates (a) wheeled recreational vehicles subject to state RV/campground rules and (b) permanent small dwellings built or sited to meet building and health codes (ADUs or small modular dwellings).

Definitions and current rules County staff explained that under state statute and current county practice, many "tiny homes" are classified as recreational vehicles: "The definition of a tiny home is a recreational vehicle that is plated on wheels and can be mobile," staff said. As recreational vehicles, those units are currently permitted to be used as dwellings only in approved campgrounds or RV parks unless they meet other manufactured-home approvals. County building-official staff noted that a permanently sited structure that meets the International Residential Code (IRC) and health requirements can be permitted as a dwelling unit, and the IRC allows very small habitable areas if they meet minimum room-size and egress requirements.

ADUs and policy choices Committee members discussed accessory dwelling units — attached or detached homes on a property that serve as secondary dwellings — which the county currently limits to 49 percent of the principal dwelling or 650 square feet, whichever is less. Members said they broadly support allowing ADUs to expand housing options but raised concerns about density, rental use, sanitation, enforcement and neighborhood character.

Possible directions discussed - Adjust ADU sizing rules to relate to lot size or a floor-area-ratio instead of the current 49%/650-sq-ft rule, to allow larger ADUs on large lots while preventing dense build-up on small suburban lots. - Keep the state definition of "tiny home" for wheeled RVs and limit their permanent placement outside approved campgrounds, unless they meet building code and health requirements as a fixed dwelling. - Use zoning-based limits: allow ADUs by right on larger agricultural/residential parcels but require special use review on smaller residential lots or in zoning districts where added density is a concern. - Preserve building-code and health-code requirements (minimum room sizes, plumbing/sanitation, egress) for any dwelling intended for permanent occupancy.

Concerns raised Committee members said they worried about unregulated rental use, neighborhoods unexpectedly hosting rental units, long-term maintenance and provision of water and sewer for wheeled units. "If it's being used as a main dwelling, it should have sanitation," one county member said. Several members argued for local review in contested cases rather than blanket allowance.

Staff direction and next steps Committee members asked staff to return with options and recommended code language next month. Staff flagged that some issues — such as manufactured-home or HUD certification — are controlled by state or federal codes and that county changes must be drafted carefully to avoid statutory conflicts.

Ending No code change was adopted. The committee directed staff to draft options addressing ADU sizing, lot-based rules and distinctions between RV-style tiny homes and permanent manufactured/modular dwellings for a future meeting.