House hacking a non multi familh property

[Mario Nunez]

We bought a house that had a mother in laws quarter in the rear. We didn’t know much about zoning but come to find out we are not in a multi family zoning area. Our dilema is whether to just connect both and turn the property into a 4/2 with 1800 sq fr by adding a connecting hallway? Or rent the rear unit and live in the front. My biggest issue is having utilities be separated and of course mail and other things.