Property owners in Dunn County now can add a second dwelling unit on their property, an action aimed at creating more housing in the county.
“We have heard loud and clear that our citizens want more and varied housing options,” said Kristin Korpela, Dunn County Manager. “The County Board of Supervisors has taken decisive action on an innovative plan to allow more types of alternative housing units in the county.”
The board at the end of July amended its Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance to allow so-called Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) on the same property as single-family homes.
“These ADUs can take a number of forms,” said Anne Wodarczyk, county Zoning Administrator, who gave a presentation to the County Board before its July 31 vote. “These can include converted garages, basement apartments, tiny home, cottages, or other dwellings.”
County officials said a 2023 housing study showed respondents favored ADUs, along with a strong desire for more housing overall. In particular, the housing study showed the need for transitional housing and ways to support “aging in place.”
Wodarczyk said allowing ADUs in Dunn County gives homeowners the flexibility they need “to create additional smaller, independent living spaces to support various family structures and needs.”
ADUs allow homeowners to use land they already have and that already is designated for housing, which “prevents sprawl of housing developments into agricultural areas,” she said.
The County Board adopted conditions that ADUs will have to meet:
No more than one ADU per lot or parcel.
ADUs must be smaller than the main home, can’t exceed 1,200 square feet and must be within 300 feet of the main home.
Wastewater must be handled through a public sanitation system or a private on-site wastewater system.
The property owner must sign a deed restriction that the property can’t be converted to a condominium, and ADUs can’t be sold separately.
ADUs must comply with the uniform dwelling code and meet setback requirements.
ADUs can take many forms, officials said, including detached units placed in a backyard, those that share a wall with the main house or those that are a converted garage or basement.
Korpela said the county tried to strike a balance between increasing the variety of housing available to residents while maintaining the character of single-family homes.
“The board and staff have worked on this change for a long time,” she said. “We take the need to increase our housing options very seriously.”
Media release.
