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County, USDA representative discuss who can qualify for RD home-loan program, loan limits and tiny-home options
Summary
Daggett County commissioners and a USDA Rural Development representative discussed whether unrelated adults or couples can jointly apply for a Rural Development home-loan program, how income and credit are counted, volunteer-hour requirements, zoning for tiny homes and a $413,000 loan limit that can bar use of local subsidies.
Angie, a Rural Development (RD) representative, told Daggett County commissioners that adults must generally be on the loan and be counted for household income to qualify for the RD home-loan program. "They'd both be on the loan. They'd both be responsible, and the income would be counted on both," Angie said during a county meeting.
Commissioner Tibbets and other commissioners sought clarification about whether two unrelated friends or two couples could jointly apply and live in a single-family dwelling. Commissioners were told RD treats the unit as single-family ownership for underwriting, so multiple adults may live together but certain occupancy and bedroom-count standards affect affordability and eligibility. The RD representative said credit status matters: if someone has poor credit and is not placed on the loan, their income may be excluded from underwriting.
Officials discussed zoning and tiny-home options as a way to expand affordable supply. Staff said the county is not the land-use authority for some lots and that tiny-home placement may require rezoning or developer agreements. The group noted that Vernal City has completed rezoning for tiny-home lots and agreed to contact local developers to see whether similar lots could be built or sold for smaller units.
Commissioners and RD staff cited a program constraint that local subsidies cannot be used if they cause the total to exceed RD's loan limit of $413,000, a restriction commissioners said has previously blocked use of locally arranged subsidies. The RD representative said that rule had been clarified at the agency's quarterly meeting.
Program rules and operational logistics were also discussed. The program requires 30 volunteer hours per week; the RD representative described the requirement as "30 man hours" and said homeowners are expected to provide at least eight hours on Saturdays (two adults working eight hours each counts toward the household total). A licensed construction supervisor must be present during construction; staff said they will compile a list of contractors to solicit bids. Participants noted materials are likely to be purchased from Rock Springs and that a local framer could complete framing on four homes in roughly three weeks.
Commissioners asked RD staff to consider flexible approaches where possible. No formal policy change or vote on program rules occurred during the discussion; the meeting moved later to a separate procedural item about closing part of the session to discuss an individual's professional competence.
