Renting SFH by room to college students - 5 unrelated people rule

[William B Wood]

I'm looking at getting into renting SFHs to college students in AZ. I know there is a rule about no more than 5 unrelated people living in the house but I'm not sure how to interpret this. Does anyone have an understanding about such things? For example, I live in a home with my wife and so, room permitting could I add 5 additional college students or could I only add 2 more? Or does my family count as one then I could add 4 more? I am very very new to Bigger Pockets please excuse my naiveté if I did not follow protocol in asking my question.

Thank You

Bill

[Kelly N.]

We have a similar rule where I'm at, also a college town, but it's up to 3 unrelated people, and only if there are 4 or more bedrooms!  We have one property with 4 bedrooms, but it is typically rented by 3 people.  In the event that there are more than 3 and the City questions it, I figure that the tenants will have to sign something stating that some of them are related.  In this day and age "We identify as cousins" may be enough...  But talk to others in your area and see what they have done. 

The rule may vary depending on the house and how it is zoned as well- there are some zoned as rooming houses here, and fraternity and sorority houses are somehow exempt from the rule as well due to the zoning.