Zoning Issues - single family home for college rentals

[Tim Gosser]

I just learned that my first two deals are zoned for single family homes. My plan is to rent to college kids. I have a clause in my contract that I can back out if I need to, but that isn't what I want to do. I know for a fact that the whole neighborhood surrounding my deals is used for college rentals. They are all zoned for single family as well. What are they seeing/knowing that I don't. Perhaps I am reading the law incorrectly or others are in the game and not playing by the rules. I can get into more details if anyone can help.

[Colleen F.]

Zoning Single Family home refers to the home not who lives there.  To find out if you are violating zoning you need to see if you town has an occupancy limits for "unrelated" occupants.  They are basically anti-student ordinances towns pass because students are not a protected class.  An ordinance might say only 3 unrelated people are allowed, this is passed by the town to limit student rentals. In  Narragansett they also have a  sticker system where student houses get stickered for the semester if there are noise complaints and they get corresponding escelating fines which are on the landlord if not paid.  Try to find out if there is anything like this.  You  can go to the city to find out and sometime off campus housing sites at your local universities can give you a feel for the climate in the area towards students. There may be a community police presence that is targeted for students and also rental registration.  Hope that helps.