Guesthouses, In-Law Suites, and Other Vague Ares of the Municode

[Nicholas LaGatta]

Hi all,

I am working through some title issues on a large West End property I am buying with questionable zoning and permitting history.  The property currently has 3 kitchens and 3 "units."  

The property is highly visible from a busy street and has a notable lack of siding on it, so I need permits to get the siding and windows replaced. In order to avoid issues with zoning and also to make sure I can refinance the property before my HML breaks my legs, I am going to apply for conversion permit to an SFR, removing the 2 additional stoves/220v hookups and keeping the sinks as "wetbars." I will also adjoin one of the "units" with a doorway. The 3rd "unit" cannot be easily connected because of the location of the bathrooms.

Does anyone know if this would fly?  Is there any reason I can't have 2 "Guest houses, servant quarters, or lodging facilities for caretakers or watchmen" (R-4 zoning rules I am referencing) in a single structure with separate entrances not connected to the largest unit?  Any idea of the implications for HVAC, hot water heaters, and other systems?  The property currently have 2 electrical hookups.  

Does anyone know the zoning/code enforcement processes and timing this would trigger once I make a request like this?