Creative Non-Rent Income Options - What’s Possible Within Zoning

[Sean Markin]

Hello BiggerPockets Community,

Right off the bat, thank you for any advice you can give.

I'm trying to understand what my options are for additional revenue streams for a property in a SFR or MultiFamily zone, since what's possible in certain zoning areas seems vague.

As I understand it, you cannot establish a business in an area zoned for multifamily. However, you can charge for a laundry room. Would it then be possible to run a laundromat out of your property?

Or let’s say you had extra parking, you can rent your extra spaces to people throughout the neighborhood. Would it be possible to run a valet service for a local restaurant?

Final example, you could set up a coffee vending machine in your foyer. Would it be possible to open your doors to the public and turn that vending machine into a “coffee shop”?

Again, Thank you so much for your help.

Best, Sean

[Chris Seveney]

@Sean Markin

This really depends on your zoning bylaws on what you can and cannot do. If it being run as a business to the public you would need to review the zoning as the business would need to get a business permit (and based on some of what you said would need health department permit).

If it’s single family or an area which allows for up to 4 units typically those do not allow any type of business for public use. But you really need to check the zoning code