Union County adopts ordinance adding temporary workforce housing as conditional use

The Union County Board of Commissioners on March 18 adopted Ordinance 2026-01, revising Articles 12, 13 and 21 of the county zoning, partition and subdivision ordinance to add a Temporary Workforce Housing conditional use. Planning Director Inga Williams told the board there were no changes since the ordinance's first reading on March 4, and Commissioner Jake Seavert moved for adoption. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Paul Anderes and carried unanimously.

Director Williams presented the ordinance as a clarification and addition to existing land-use rules; she said the amendment would allow temporary workforce housing to be considered under conditional-use procedures rather than as an outright permitted use. Commissioner Seavert said he believes the county will be among the first in the state to adopt such a provision, and Director Williams noted other counties have similar efforts under varying approaches. The ordinance will be effective according to county code timing and any applicable appeal periods before permit issuance.