Unpermitted garage conversion - is it legal if owner lives in it?

[K. Glenn]

I have a duplex with a large garage in the back that I’d like to turn into another unit. The lot is zoned R2, but I hear if I (as the owner) decided to live in the garage that would not technically be illegal. I was thinking of doing this while I started the process of trying to get my lot rezoned as I know that can be lengthy, but I wanted to make sure I wasn’t doing something they would look down on.

If I didn’t have a proper kitchen or used removable electric burners (hot plate), would this be kosher?