Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Adus topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council clarifies standards for detached accessory dwelling units: lot-size thresholds, hookups and 29-day rule
Summary
Council reviewed limits and technical requirements for detached accessory dwelling units (DADUs): one DADU per 10,000 sq. ft. of lot area, a 29-day threshold distinguishing temporary from long-term placement, requirement for concrete pad and utility hookups for long-term DADUs, and that RV parks are addressed through separate trailer park zoning.
Mount Pleasant councilmembers discussed specific rules for detached accessory dwelling units (DADUs) at the Oct. 28 work session, focusing on how many units may be placed on a parcel and what technical standards apply for long-term occupancy.
Planning staff said the draft ties the number of permitted DADUs to parcel size: no additional DADUs are permitted unless a parcel contains an initial 10,000 square feet, and an additional DADU is allowed for each additional 10,000-square-foot increment. Councilmembers confirmed that the ordinance intends roughly a single DADU per 100-by-100-foot parcel equivalent.
Members and staff also discussed the 29-day threshold built into the draft. Short-term guests or temporary placement under 29 days do not trigger the full technical requirements, but a unit intended for long-term occupancy — "if it's long term" — must meet more permanent standards. The transcript shows council agreement that a DADU intended for months of occupancy must be on a concrete pad and have designated sewer, water and power hookups. As one councilmember noted, "If it's gonna be moved in, then it doesn't matter. But if you want it to be there and live have to be living there more than a month, then... it's gotta become more of a permanent fixture."
Staff clarified that trailer parks and large RV park proposals are addressed under distinct trailer-park zoning and are not treated as accessory dwellings. The planning department said it would ensure the ordinance specifies hookups, foundation/pad requirements, skirt rules, and limits on hazardous storage (for example, prohibiting oversized propane tanks) for long-term DADUs. No final vote was recorded in the transcript; staff will return final numeric thresholds and technical edits for council review.
