Subdivision committee reopens RV-park, mobile-home and tiny-house rules; FEMA group-site conversions raised

The Terrebonne Parish Subdivision Regulation Review Committee discussed draft RV-park and mobile-home regulations, the status of former FEMA group sites, and regulatory questions around tiny houses during a March meeting that committee members said would continue in April.

Committee members and staff said the draft RV-park rules from 2014 largely mirrored mobile-home park rules but that the parish ultimately approved only the mobile-home side in that draft. Staff member Chris told the committee he distributed the 2014 draft to members and asked them to review it in advance of further discussion. He said the issue arose in public comment from residents near former FEMA group sites on Water Plant Road and Gage Court, and he said Parish President Bergeron sent a letter to FEMA on March 10 requesting the agency honor earlier statements about returning those sites to pre-storm conditions.

Staff described regulatory gaps for so-called "park-model" tiny houses and explained how those units can be placed under an Act 12 camp affidavit (used for recreational or nonprimary-residence exemptions) rather than full IBC plan review. As staff put it, "The only way right now a tiny house, park model ... would be allowed in Terrebonne Parish is if the person looking to place it, signs the Act 12 camp affidavit and basically attesting that it's only for recreational use, it's not a primary residence." Staff and commissioners discussed that such units are still subject to base-flood-elevation requirements and that some manufacturers provide wind-load and anchoring details; however, staff warned the affidavit route can circumvent building-code plan review and inspection that would otherwise apply to residences.

Committee members debated options to address those gaps, including (1) reintroducing RV-park provisions alongside mobile-home park language, (2) requiring engineered foundation or anchoring plans for park-model units placed on slabs, and (3) clarifying when park-model units must meet IBC standards or obtain full inspections. One commissioner observed that some park-model units could be upgraded and inspected to meet IBC standards, while staff said the parish does not currently require plan-review stamps on park-model units sold as sheds unless they are converted and brought into compliance.

The committee also discussed buffers, drainage, perimeter protections and screening for any future RV-park conversions, and members expressed concern about permitting long stretches of low-standard RV or mobile-home developments without adequate infrastructure. Staff said the committee will reconvene to draft specific language for commissioners and the public to review; the committee selected April 10 to meet next and asked members to study the 2014 draft in the interim.

The discussion flagged several possible regulatory changes but produced no formal rules at the meeting. Staff and committee members emphasized that any change would require follow-up drafting, public review and formal adoption through the parish process.