Philadelphia Zoning Question

[Bennett Schwartz]

Hey All,

Need some help,

I bought my first house about 2 months ago hoping to make it a triplex. Being a newbie I thought that the zoning was Rm-1 because that's what the contract said. Of course right after I purchased the property I found out that is was really RSA-5. I don't think i'll be able to make it into a Triplex but in Atlas there seems to be some paper work from the 70's that it was a duplex. I don't really know what it saying. 

Anyone have a similar issue or know how I can find out what I can do with the property without getting a variance?

Any help would be great.

[Troy Sheets]

Unless the property is actively being used as a triplex with 3 active rental licenses (no matter the zoning), it's likely your only option is a variance. There are RSA5 (SFH zoning) properties out there legally being used as MFH's but they either used to be zoned for MFH and were able to be grandfathered in or the owners got a variance.