It’s not a big thing on Tuesday’s city council agenda.

But the topic may draw big, big interest.

The Bainbridge Island City Council will take up the issue of “tiny homes” at its study session Tuesday, March 5.

Tiny homes are seen as a potential answer to the skyrocketing cost of single-family homes. They are typically described as dwellings less than 400 square feet in size, built to resemble a small cottage. Some are constructed on a permanent foundation, while others are set on wheels and can be moved from location to location.

The ones on wheels are described by advocates as being different from motor homes, or towed trailers, because their construction more closely resembles a conventional house.

Municipalities across the country have been grappling with how to allow, or not, tiny homes within the framework of existing zoning and land-use laws. Some cities have allowed tiny houses as accessory dwelling units, or on residentially-zoned lots if the homes are placed on permanent foundations.

A number of counties in California have permitted tiny houses on wheels if they are used as caregiving dwellings and are placed in the back yard of an existing home.

In other areas of the country, including Oregon, tiny houses have been used as dwellings for the homeless.

The potential for tiny homes was explored last year by the city’s Affordable Housing Task Force.

In its report to the council last July, the task force recommended that the city explore tiny homes and tiny homes on wheels as a strategy to increase the amount of lower cost housing on Bainbridge. The average value of a home on Bainbridge is $660,520.

The council meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Bainbridge Island City Hall.

The discussion on tiny homes is not scheduled to come up until approximately 8:30 p.m., but council consideration of the topic may start sooner, or later, depending on the length of discussion for items earlier on the agenda.