In-law Suite - Westchester NY

[Joe Jor]

Does anyone know how Westchester County defines an in-law suite?  Is this a legal description or just a marketing term?  What separates this from a "regular" unit?  There is surprisingly little detail on the internet as it pertains to this county.

For example a 2 family with an in-law suite - Can all 3 be rented out?  Is this really a 3 family property (tax rolls say no based on one I checked)?  Is this a 2 family property with an illegal apartment?

@Adam Cherko - tagging you in case you have insights.

Joe

[Adam Cherko]

So I will preface this as conversation only, and would like to get a lawyers viewpoint and maybe a city official, but my understanding is, it's a unit that is allowed but not legally rentable. Do folks rent them? I'm sure they do, but if someone with the power to make an issue looked into it and could prove it, I believe they would have a problem on their hands, in terms of a fine or violation or something. 

I believe it's the way to have a separate kitchen with legal egress, etc. in a single family home or in your case described a 2-family with a 3rd kitchen. Back in the day there were areas of the bronx and westchester that legitimately had kitchens in the basements because it was cooler down there, for cooking in the summertime, before Air Conditioning was common place. They called them summer kitchens. Fast forward to modern day, and those summer kitchens get turned into illegal units and thats whey they crack down on them. They just want people living in safe places, with proper egress, Proper ceiling height, and electric and plumbing installed properly. We see things all the time that look great, but there have been many people for many years living in horrible conditions in basements and attics.   

@Karl Dowden, any thoughts?