Clackamas County Votes to Allow ADUs, Residential RVs

Clackamas County, Oregon residents will be allowed to include accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and recreational vehicles (RVs) as secondary housing units on properties in Rural Residential zones. 

According to an article in Mountain Times by Adrian Knowler, “ADUs are defined as permanent dwellings that include a kitchen, bathroom, and are permitted and connected to utilities, principal planner Martha Fritzie told the commissioners. She noted that ADUs can be either detached buildings, internal conversions or extensions of existing houses.”

The new rules apply to properties larger than two acres. ADUs must be no larger than 900 square feet, while RVs must be equipped with permanent essential services like water and sewage disposal.  The rules also prohibit renting these units as short-term rentals.

As Knowler notes, “The proposal came as state laws on land use have changed over the previous three legislative sessions. State law previously had prohibited ADUs outside urban growth boundaries such as the rurally designated Mount Hood Corridor.”