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Commissioners press staff to clarify ADU, guest house, caretaker and employee-housing definitions
Summary
The commission debated differences between accessory dwelling units, guest houses, caretaker units and employee housing and whether existing code language (some of it legacy phrasing) needs updating to align building types and permitted uses.
Commissioners sought clearer definitions after finding confusing carryover terms in the draft code. Planning staff told the commission that, historically, a "guest house" was defined as a dwelling unit without full kitchen facilities while an ADU is a standalone dwelling with a kitchen; caretaker units are intended for on-site business caretakers and employee housing is typically more temporary or barracks-like and defined by state rules. "A guest house is typically defined as a dwelling unit without, like, kitchen facilities," a planning staffer said while reviewing the table.
Members asked whether the code controls the 'use' (for example, employee housing) or the type of building (manufactured home versus a duplex). Commissioners stressed that zoning regulates permitted uses rather than construction type and asked staff to verify building-code definitions so county zoning aligns with state and building-code terms.
