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?  

[Rick Baggenstoss]

If the house has been occupied recently, then you're grandfathered in as multi.  Also West End is rezoning to allow multifamily on a few of the busy streets like Langhorn and RDA.  

If you're not zoned multi and not grandfathered in, then you really do need to go single family.  The residence of Historic West End will be all over you and your project will get shut down and suffer very lengthy delays. 

Feel free to PM me.