Planning director proposes allowing temporary dwellings tied to active building permits

Burke County’s planning staff proposed a zoning text amendment to allow temporary dwellings on parcels undergoing repair or construction, a change intended to help residents displaced or repairing homes after storm damage.

Deputy County Manager and Planning Director Alan Glines told the board the draft ordinance would permit recreational vehicles, FEMA units, campers and certain temporary sleeping shelters when tied to an active building permit for repairing or building a permanent dwelling. The text includes time limits and ties temporary occupancy to the building permit and required site work such as septic approvals.

"The temporary dwelling used, we would tie that to an active building permit for repairing a home or during the process of building a new home or accessory dwelling on the same tract of land," Glines said, describing the provision as a way to allow temporary housing while a permanent residence is repaired or constructed.

Commissioners asked practical questions about temporary service poles, inspections and septic connections. One commissioner expressed concern about people who had to rely on family or friends’ property after severe river damage or other disasters where the damaged parcel could not physically accommodate a temporary unit; he asked whether the county could build exceptions for displaced residents who cannot place trailers on their original parcels.

Glines said the most administratively straightforward approach ties the temporary dwelling to the parcel with the active building permit, and that situations where temporary housing is placed on a different parcel (for example, a friend’s lot) would be difficult to manage from a permitting standpoint. He noted the planning board reviewed the amendment and recommended the form presented to the board after an extensive hour‑long discussion.

The item will remain on the regular meeting agenda as a public hearing. Staff said they reviewed coastal‑county ordinances and state building‑code definitions to inform the draft and that the ordinance can include limits to prevent permanent residence in recreational vehicles.

Next steps: the board will hear the zoning map amendment and the text amendment at the regular meeting public hearing; staff will be prepared to discuss septic and temporary power inspection protocols and any potential disaster‑exception language.