Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Manufactured Homes topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Calvert City planners briefed on new state manufactured‑home rules; staff flags possible zoning tweaks
Summary
City planning staff summarized new state manufactured‑home regulations due next summer and urged the commission to consider local changes — including minimum total square footage, roof‑pitch standards and where tiny homes on wheels may be permitted — after upcoming trainings and consultations with regional planners.
John, a city planning staff member, told the Calvert City Planning Commission that new state rules for manufactured homes expected to take effect next year will emphasize dimensional and design standards and could require local code adjustments.
“We're finding that most people right now are still trying to find their way,” John said, and noted the commission has arranged training opportunities including a Green River seminar and a presentation from Ben Peterson, a planner in the Bowling Green/Warren County joint planning area. John said Paducah already has criteria in place that may be useful as a model.
Why it matters: the state changes focus on size, structure and design, John said, and that could mean local minimums for total square footage (including second-floor area), not just footprint. He said some manufacturers and jurisdictions are treating double‑wide (20‑foot) minimums as baseline; local rules that go beyond state requirements would need careful drafting so they do not conflict with the new statute.
John described how Calvert City currently treats manufactured and tiny homes: manufactured homes are allowed in R3 (by conditional use) and R4 (as a matter of right), and in I1 and I2 zones. Tiny homes built on stick‑built foundations are treated as single‑family dwellings, he said, but tiny homes mounted on trailer frames are classified like campers and therefore must be sited in regulated locations such as mobile home parks or campgrounds.
“If they're built on a trailer frame or on a rolling stock frame, they're considered a camper and have to be in regulated such as such,” John said. He recommended the commission consider whether to adopt dimensional standards that apply to all housing types (stick‑built and manufactured) so the rules are consistent across residential zoning categories.
Commission members and staff also discussed roof pitch as a visual compatibility concern. John said Paducah does not require a specific roof pitch; Calvert City has existing pitch standards for some stick‑built houses, and any local change should apply equally to stick‑built and manufactured homes if the goal is uniform appearance.
Training and next steps: commissioners discussed bringing regional experts to a local session. John said the city recently hosted a House Bill 55 training with nearly 80 participants and that the Kentucky League of Cities staff praised the turnout. He said the commission will follow up with trainings and return with draft code language for the commission's review.
The commission did not take formal action on zoning changes at the meeting; staff will continue outreach and present proposed language at a future meeting.
