I presume that in LA it is illegal to rent a unit without a permit, but I highly doubt there is any law dictating how noi is figured.

How would you describe your experience with the DC permit office? 

I'm not in that area, but, if I had to guess, you're probably looking at $3000-5000.Could obviously be more or less depending on:- Type/quality of contractor- Quality of materials- Access to existing wiring- Whether you are willing to do sheetrock repair and painting afterwards- Cost of permits- Your negotiating skill

@Karen Margrave  takes us 19 days to get an appointment to talk about a permit LOL

Bet the idea of renting out their house to total strangers like it was a hotel room looked real good on paper.Yuppie stupidity knows no bounds.If they wanted to run a hotel, they should have gotten the proper permits and insurance.

Not all lenders will do everything Fannie Mae permits, however.  

If no renting is permitted in the condo bylaws/docs, I wouldnt even mess with it.

I'm reading a lot about hotel taxes, permits, and HOA's that can be a problem.

The other is how university off-campus housing policies (which may or may not permit co-ed dorms) interact with fair housing law.Am I making a little bit more sense now?

You should be able to check with your local building dept. or permitting authority for the specific zoning regulations.