Dunn County Approves Accessory Dwelling Units for Homeowners

Dunn County officials have announced homeowners will now be allowed to build accessory dwelling units on their properties.

According to a press release from the County, the change was made in an effort to address a lack of housing, particularly affordable housing in the area. Officials say a study conducted in 2023 found that area residents favored the approval of the accessory dwelling units as well as increasing the amount of available housing overall.

The Dunn County Board also adopted some requirements for the accessory dwelling units. The units must be smaller than the main home, can’t exceed 1,200 square feet, and must be within 300 feet of the main home. There will be no more than one unit allowed per lot or parcel, the units must comply with the uniform dwelling code and setback requirements, and wastewater must be handled through a public sanitation system or private on-site wastewater system.

Homeowners who wish to build an accessory dwelling unit on their property must also sign a deed restriction that would prevent them from converting the property into a condominium. The accessory dwelling units cannot be sold separately from the property.

County officials say the goal of the ordinance update is to provide more housing for residents without sacrificing the character of the single-family home neighborhoods. The accessory dwelling units could look like an extra addition to a house, a small but separate guest house, or could even be located in the basement of a house making no changes to its appearance from the street.