Converting Attic - Studio/One Bedroom

[Steven Colon]

Hello Everyone,

Currently working with a spacious two family property in Clifton NJ and I'm considering converting the attic into a Studio/1 bedroom apt to add more cash flow. The house currently sits on a Multifamily Lot, however I'm unfamiliar with the process of working with the town to convert the space into an actual unit.  The space already has it's separate entrance and my plan was to have a fire escape installed to provide a second exit.

Any information or recommendations on how to move forward provided would be GREATLY appreciated.  I left the zoning office a message and I'm currently waiting for them to respond, but they might be out of office due to COVID.

Thanks again,

Steven

[Dan Weber]

There may be some digging you can do yourself without hearing back from zoning. If you go to your town/city assessors website, they should have a zoning map. Some websites have the PDF form but I prefer the GIS interactive maps. If you use the GIS map, type in your address and turn on the "zoning" layer or filter. Use this info to determine which zoning district your property is in. Then find the zoning bylaw or regulation for your municipality. Within that set of rules, you can find a "Table of Uses". Within that, see if a three unit property is allowed or permitted within the zoning district you are looking for. 

As far as Building Code is concerned, you may have some issues. When you convert a property from a two family building to a three family building, you are going from the residential code book to the commercial bode book which has its own set of codes and restrictions. If the code enforcement office knows what they are doing, they will ask you to install a residential sprinkler system in the new third unit at the very least. I would shoot someone from the code enforcement department and email and ask them the code related requirements for such a situation.

Although I typically advise to go into these offices to get a hold of someone, email will probably be better than a voicemail given everything that is going on.