Atlanta Metro
Clarkston · DeKalb County
The Cottages on Vaughan
Developed by the Microlife Institute, The Cottages on Vaughan is the first legal tiny home cottage court in metro Atlanta. On a 0.5-acre infill site one block from downtown Clarkston, eight micro-cottages oriented around a shared central green demonstrate how pocket neighborhoods address housing density with a sustainable, highly communal alternative to urban sprawl.
Placement intelligence
Park specs & operating terms
Structured pass/fail data for THOW and modular siting—sourced from operator materials and independent research. Fields marked [TBD - Research Component Required] are queued for verification.
Quick-glance park specs
| Technical Parameter | Requirement / Status |
|---|---|
| Power Infrastructure | Complete underground utility infrastructure with separate municipal residential power configurations per cottage. |
| Waste & Sewer System | Connected directly to DeKalb County municipal water and public sewer sanitation grids. |
| Build Certifications | Permanent foundation-built to regional IRC codes—9-foot main ceilings, premium insulated windows, low-flow fixtures, and cement fiber siding across eight standalone micro-cottages. |
| Pet Constraints | Domestic neighborhood pets welcome subject to standard municipal ordinances and community courtesy rules. |
Financials & leasing terms
Monthly benchmarks and lease mechanics—confirm current rates with the operator before applying.
Lot rent & monthly fees
Monthly rate
$0/mo
fee-simple title to structure and underlying parcel
$0/mo fee simple title to structure and underlying parcel. Master HOA handles property preservation.
Turn-key & purchase benchmarks
Initial developer sales ~
$152,500
Utility inclusions
Monthly HOA covers common area insurance, grounds maintenance, central organic gardens, fire pit wood supplies, and trash collection.
Lease mechanics
Standard fee-simple property transactions. Initial developer sales ~; current secondary-market values trend significantly higher due to metro Atlanta appreciation.
Home specifications & placement rules
Dimensional thresholds
500 sq ft main-floor interior space plus ~250 sq ft structural sleeping or storage loft across eight units on 0.5 acres.
Aesthetic controls & covenants
High-end craftsman cottage design—cement siding, shingle roofing, open-concept dining, main-level master bedrooms, mini-splits, and rooftop solar. Window AC units prohibited.
Sustainability & permaculture allowances
EarthNest-aligned buyers should confirm closed-loop systems against recorded park rules—not just municipal code.
Alternative waste systems
Composting and greywater prohibited—direct closed connection to public sewer lines required.
Off-grid adaptations
Fully operational rooftop solar systems with high-efficiency appliances and advanced insulated thermal windows.
Site edibles & gardens
Central courtyard planted with collaborative organic vegetable beds, blackberry brambles, tomatoes, and fruit trees tended by all eight homeowners.
Media & site documentation
OpenStreetMap tiles · scroll zoom disabled to keep page navigation smooth
[TBD - Research Component Required]
Planning land you own in DeKalb County?
The Cottages on Vaughan is a fee-simple cottage court—not the same as a pad-lease THOW village or a DeKalb County backyard ADU. Route into pathway tools if you are comparing both models.
Pads & tenancy snapshot
Intimate pocket homesites averaging ~1,800 sq ft per parcel—room-sized front porches oriented inward to a shared communal courtyard. Fee-simple title to structure and underlying lot; no lot rent.
Historic pilot project at 100% full homeowner occupancy. Vacancies are exceptionally rare; secondary market turnover moves rapidly through private registries. Commercial STR (Airbnb/VRBO) explicitly banned.
Ownership models surfaced
Key amenities
Boolean flags summarize what directories can filter on; they are directional only—operators change pet rules, dock limits, or fitness bundles without notice.
- Pet-friendly
- Ownership path
- Community garden
- Clubhouse
- Cowork / shared workspace
- Laundry
Stewardship disclosures
Achieved via Clarkston City Council's Tiny Home Ordinance overlay permitting high-density cottage courts. Resident-led HOA manages shared courtyard landscaping, agricultural maintenance, aesthetic standards, and bans commercial sub-letting. Native urban drainage and stormwater absorption throughout.
Operators evolve rules—triple-check recorded covenants, county interpretations, HOA restrictions, occupancy certificates, and insurance binders aligned to your exact structure classification.