Converting Single Family to Multi Family

[Nick Payton]

I am curious to hear about those of you who have experience converting a single family home into a duplex or multi family property.  

Are their certain things to look for in zoning beforehand?  

Do single family homes get zoned for multi family before a request is submitted to the township?  

What are some important things to consider when it comes to the renovation?  How expensive can this get?

Just looking for some perspective.  Thanks.

[Brent Watanabe]

I think to start you need to check your local zoning ordinance and make sure the property you want to convert isn't restricted in the code. There's usually a chart that breaks down the different types of district designations and the permitted uses associated with them, or at minimum a lengthy description.

If there isn't a distinction between residential districts, you can probably just call the city to find out.

If there is a distinction and your property isn't zoned for multi-family, you'll need to get the property re-zoned. Probably another call to the city.

There can be a lot of complexities based on where you're trying to do it.