The local government agency has made it so easy to get permits approved due to the shortage of housing.I am hoping we could network and attend seminar and grow our business. 

If you have a mortgage backed by Fannie/Freddie/USDA/VA (which is a very large percentage of mortgages), or receive any other type of support from the federal government (Section VIII, etc), you'd actually be breaking Federal law by charging late fees or penalties. 

If permitted, zoning may have conditions for you to comply with such as setbacks.Contact your local government otherwise to determine if there are any regulations you must follow. 

I was also wondering which government agency I would need to contact about permitting.

This is sad to see as it appears your local governing body is submitting to State influenced legislation.

Plus we’ll get a new wave as companies and governments offer early retirement.

When you go out of business and your portfolio is foreclosed upon, what will the government do with all these squatters in abandoned buildings and no tax revenue from said properties? 

If a government program(section 8) applicant think this is discrimination against them.

I was wondering if anyone had applied to any financial support from the government.

For me, taking a somewhat neutral position by holding all of the major asset classes (stocks, government bonds, cash, and gold) held in equal weightings has been working well for me.