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Planning commission moves to draft rule barring yurts and shipping containers as dwellings
Summary
Huntsville Town planners discussed drafting an ordinance to prohibit yurts, round houses and shipping containers as dwellings or accessory living units, citing appearance and local control. The commission agreed to pursue a formal ordinance and to seek public input before finalizing any ban.
The Huntsville Town Planning Commission on Oct. 23 discussed drafting an ordinance to disallow yurts, round houses and shipping containers as living units in town.
Town Council liaison Sandy Hunter noted the town had previously approved a house/yurt and said municipalities “have the right to control the look of their Town/City,” arguing that a public meeting would be appropriate before adopting any new rule. Commissioners signaled support for writing a clarifying ordinance to limit those structures as dwellings or accessory living quarters.
The discussion flagged questions the commission wants the ordinance to answer: whether these structures may be allowed as nonliving accessory sheds, how to handle existing approvals, and enforcement mechanisms. Commissioners asked staff to draft language and hold public outreach; no formal action was taken beyond directing a draft be prepared for future review.
