A COUPLE who built a tiny home village has warned they refuse to “cease and desist” after city officials ordered them to tear it down.

Mark Colville and his wife Luz Catarineau, of Connecticut, transformed their backyard into a neighborhood to house a row of shelters.

But planning officials in New Haven sent a letter – just a week after six tiny homes were built behind the Amistad Catholic Worker House, per The New Haven Independent.

Colville and Catarineau were told: “We have learned that the Pallet Shelters were recently installed this weekend without the same review for compliance with both the Building Code and the City’s Zoning Ordinance as other property owners must follow when building and adding new structures on their land.”

They were urged to remove the homes that had been built.

The couple was warned that they must “cease and desist” the assembly of any other shelters until they received notice from officials on the Board of Zoning Appeals board.

Despite receiving the letter, Colville said: “We can’t cease, because we have a commitment to people. And we will certainly never desist.”

Catarineau told the New Haven Independent that around 100 volunteers had helped level the ground and build foundations ahead of the homes being built.

The couple has met with city officials in a bid to try and get the green light for their housing project.

They said they are willing to work with planning leaders to get the project legalized.

Mayor Justin Elicker has said he’s “optimistic” the couple will go through the correct process.

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He warned the couple would be sent another letter if they failed to comply with the orders.

Elicker said: “We expect every property owner in the city to follow the zoning laws and follow the building code.”

The mayor warned that litigation could be a consequence if orders are ignored.

Four of the tiny homes are for single occupants only and have a size of just 64 square feet.

The other two are doubles and have fold-up bunk beds and are 100 square feet each.

Suki Godek lived in a homeless encampment that was bulldozed by authorities but six months ago, she managed to find shelter and help at Amistad.

Along with other residents and volunteers, Godek helped construct the tiny homes by clearing the yard and preparing the foundations.

She and her husband hope to be chosen to move into the new homes.

“It’s been a little stressful but it was awesome because it brought all of us who hadn’t spent a lot of time with each other together.”

Godek said she has been able to get to know her neighbors living at Amistad.

Meanwhile, Jason Marrone, who lived in an encampment that was bulldozed, told the New Haven Independent: “I’ve never seen people go this far for homeless people.”

The U.S. Sun has approached the City of New Haven for comment.