Baltimore Multifamily Conversion Zoning Question

[Zachary Miller]

Hi all! 

Does anyone here have any experience with the multifamily conversion process in Baltimore City? Specifically, I am interested in learning how to check the zoning records of a house to see if a multifamily property is properly zoned?

Backstory: I came across a home for sale that I believe has potential to cash flow very nicely. The house which was at one time a single family has been converted to 2 units and a garage/carriage house has been built that is essentially another unit. The owner told me that the house was "grandfathered as a two unit" but:

1) I don't know exactly what he even means by that and

2) I wouldn't trust him (since I don't know him at all) even if I knew what he meant

Looking online I found that the house is zoned as "R-7" which under current zoning regulations allows for multifamily conversions with a number of requirements (minimum unit size, parking, etc.) that this property doesn't currently have. Any suggestions about how to best go about my due diligence in looking at this deal?