Henry County discusses widening homestead definition to include garages and sheds

Henry County commissioners heard a presentation about plans to align the county's homestead definition with language in Senate Bill 190, including a proposal to recognize ancillary, noncommercial structures such as garages, sheds and detached storage buildings as part of a homestead.

Scott, the speaker who presented the item, said the county would include the primary residence and ancillary structures "as long as it's not commercial" and that "garages, sheds, detached garages, little storage buildings" would be treated as part of the homestead. He added that large agricultural buildings would be excluded from the definition.

The presenter said paperwork and a physical review are expected to be completed in about two months, and that staff had circulated draft materials for review by county officials. Commissioners asked questions about inspection scope and emphasized they would "err on the side of including a little bit more" to avoid disenfranchising property owners whose accessory structures are clearly residential in use.

The discussion referenced Senate Bill 190 as the legislative text the county intends to mirror for its local definition. No formal ordinance or motion adopting a local change to the county code was recorded in the transcript; commissioners discussed timing and implementation steps and staff signaled work would continue.

The commission did not take a formal vote on a local ordinance or resolution during the session; staff indicated a multiweek administrative process would follow with a physical review and paperwork to complete the local adjustment.