SFH rezoned as Duplex or Non-Conforming in South Side Flats

[Michelle Tucker]

Hello all- Appreciate some guidance if possible-My Brother and I are looking to purchase a property that currently operates with 2 units- The building is considered a SFH though and the current owner pays utilities. We found that the building we are interested in is not zoned for multiple units, though the current owners have been operating it like this for 13 plus years. We want to be above board for a number of reasons, not least of which are the potential liability if the building is not coded correctly.

We are getting resistance from all directions including some of the realtors on our team. The current owners won't provide a cert of occupancy. I am trying to understand how laborious the process for securing a legal non-conforming status for the property would be in this area. And what the potential of successfully doing this would be. I have called the zoning and the licensing board but have received confusing and non conclusive information. We are asking for a reduction in the offer price due to this in anticipation of the headache of the situation and the potential of it not working as a rental in the way we imagined.

I am getting the message that I am worrying about something that I shouldn't. That the government turns a blind eye.

Does anyone have experience trying to do this in the Southside recently? I have searched posts but haven't found anything conclusive. Thanks in advance again-