Feel like there is still the bubble where legislation on vacation rentals hasn't been enforced in many areas so might be a good window of opportunity to learn the short-term game.I hope from this experience, this will lead me into my next interest which is creative financing (seller financing/subject to), where I can actually acquire and own properties, but this time without the need of traditional financing and a W2 income.

On paper, that garage isn't habitable (despite having utilities), so the lease isn't an enforceable contract.

Doing un-permitted work is quite common and many cities are simply overwhelmed from a code enforcement standpoint to catch violators.  

But I have no idea how they enforce it or what they would do if you violate it.

Here is a great article that came out last month that shows how lax enforcement is.  

I wanted to get your thoughts around heating situation that I am facing for my Basement at my 4Plex multi-unit property.I recently installed electric base board heaters on each of the 4 apartment units at my property due to city enforcing rentals to provide own heating source per individual apartment unit.

They will send a code enforcement officer to investigate and they can put pressure on the neighbor to clean it up.Talk to your insurance company.

If they are VERY professional, they will have their processes in writing as verification that it is enforced equally and fairly by their entire staff.6.

What's your sense of how this is effectively being enforced now?

There are so many illegal dispensaries and cannabis operations running right now, that there is not enough law enforcement personnel to shut down these shops/operations.