Fortunately I am just outside of the boundaries of the historic district and do not have HOA, Historic district, or any other governing body (Besides of course City of Houston permitting department) to answer to. 

You get the name of someone at a bank (rather than a department) and your initial call or email is "I got your name from Jane Doe who recommended I call you based on work you've done with her clients before". 

Agents are sales department and claims are claims department.

A call to your local building department should get you at least a general answer - and a good feeling whether you'll likely have to do the work or if you might be able get by without it.

I did send an email to Air BnB and I'm waiting to hear back from a friend in the police department as well.

I work as an IT Contractor at the Department of Labor in Washington DC. 

Jason,Check with the local zoning department, they can give you all the info you need. as far as government is concerned, it's no more then 4 unrelated people in a dwelling ( so SFH=4, 2 FAMILY=8, Etc.), but i have heard of towns only allowing 3, so make sure you check with the town.

So I went to planning department today and got more information:It is zoned as D1, so a primary residence with a secondary unit.

@Justin Mcintyre - Here is the law the licensing department was referring to.  

@Brandon BlackfinThe Department of Veterans Affairs have a program similar to section 8.