Concern holding me back

Member since 2021 · 11 posts · 2 votes

I’m looking to buy my first rental property as a house hack. I’ve done plenty of research and I’m very confident and ready to buy. However zoning laws are the only thing holding me back. I’m not sure how strict they are and I’m worried I am not in compliance with them. Does anyone have any information on zoning laws that could help ease my stress. It has me in analysis paralysis and I want to get past it

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Joe Norman

Property Manager · Baltimore, MD · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes

As others have said, zoning rules and regulations are very local so it's hard to give general advice. Talk to someone at the government body that over sees zoning in your county/municipality. Go to them with specific questions about a specific property, listen, ask good questions, and be polite. You will need a relationship with them going forward.

While we likely can't answer any specific questions about your town's zoning, I am curious about what you are concerned about? Unless you're repurposing a property then the zoning doesn't matter too much (assumings its current use is a conforming one).

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Matthew Schellberg
Homeowner · Reno · Member since 2022 · 7 posts · 5 votes
3y
Have you found a real estate agent yet out there. If not I entered my info on this site call UpNest. A couple of agents reached out to me out the blue. I’m sure if you go straight to an expert in your market (I.e. agent) they will set you straight.
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Zack Schlund
OP
Member since 2021 · 11 posts · 2 votes
3y
Quote from @Matthew Schellberg:

Have you found a real estate agent yet out there. If not I entered my info on this site call UpNest. A couple of agents reached out to me out the blue. I’m sure if you go straight to an expert in your market (I.e. agent) they will set you straight.

So I’m working with an agent who’s a friend of my current roommate. he’s been a huge help however he works in a different area so he’s not familiar with where I’m buying. would it be rude to reach out to another agent just to ask them questions ?

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Account Closed
Investor · Scottsdale Austin Tuktoyaktuk · Member since 2021 · 4k+ posts · 4k+ votes
3y
Quote from @Zack Schlund:

I’m looking to buy my first rental property as a house hack. I’ve done plenty of research and I’m very confident and ready to buy. However zoning laws are the only thing holding me back. I’m not sure how strict they are and I’m worried I am not in compliance with them. Does anyone have any information on zoning laws that could help ease my stress. It has me in analysis paralysis and I want to get past it

Agents don't know the zoning laws. They have to check with the city/county regarding any specific property. You can do the same. Simply call the building department and ask who to speak with. They will look up the zonig for the parcel and tell you the zoning. That is what they are there for.
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Tim DelaneyPro Member
Buffalo, NY · Member since 2018 · 790 posts · 530 votes
3y
@Zack Schlund it is just another piece of information that you should have as part of your evaluation criteria. Most municipalities have their zoning maps and descriptions of what is allowed online. They are not always the easiest to read or understand, but you can also just call the building department with the address and they will tell you what is allowed and not. If you are mostly looking in one town you could even print out the zoning map, take it into the building department and ask them to explain what is and isn’t allowed in the different areas so you can easily reference yourself in the future.
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Joe Norman
Property Manager · Baltimore, MD · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
3y
As others have said, zoning rules and regulations are very local so it's hard to give general advice. Talk to someone at the government body that over sees zoning in your county/municipality. Go to them with specific questions about a specific property, listen, ask good questions, and be polite. You will need a relationship with them going forward.
While we likely can't answer any specific questions about your town's zoning, I am curious about what you are concerned about? Unless you're repurposing a property then the zoning doesn't matter too much (assumings its current use is a conforming one).
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Corby GoadeBusiness Member
Investor · Boise, ID · Member since 2014 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
3y
Tell us more about your strategy- there's a huge difference between house hacking by having a few roommates and converting a SFH to a MFH or building an ADU. What are you trying to do?
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Nathan GesnerBusiness Member
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Real Estate Broker · Cody, WY · Member since 2010 · 28k+ posts · 41k+ votes
3y
Quote from @Zack Schlund:

I’m looking to buy my first rental property as a house hack. I’ve done plenty of research and I’m very confident and ready to buy. However zoning laws are the only thing holding me back. I’m not sure how strict they are and I’m worried I am not in compliance with them. Does anyone have any information on zoning laws that could help ease my stress. It has me in analysis paralysis and I want to get past it

Contact the city Planning and Zoning office. Give them the address, tell them what you want to do, and they will tell you if it's allowed. It's that simple.
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Account Closed
Rental Property Investor · Indianapolis, IN · Member since 2020 · 562 posts · 554 votes
3y
@Zack Schlund call or email your local zoning office.
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Zack Schlund
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Member since 2021 · 11 posts · 2 votes
3y
Quote from @Joe Norman:

As others have said, zoning rules and regulations are very local so it's hard to give general advice. Talk to someone at the government body that over sees zoning in your county/municipality. Go to them with specific questions about a specific property, listen, ask good questions, and be polite. You will need a relationship with them going forward.
While we likely can't answer any specific questions about your town's zoning, I am curious about what you are concerned about? Unless you're repurposing a property then the zoning doesn't matter too much (assumings its current use is a conforming one).

My concern is that my ideal property is a 4 bed 2 bath single family home. These are all in residential zones. However with living in a college town and house hacking, I will be renting out each room individually. With that said one of the main things I've seen is that no more than 2 unrelated people may live in the same house hold in a residential zone. so this holds me back to only being able to rent to one other person, leaving the other two bedrooms empty.
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Zack Schlund
OP
Member since 2021 · 11 posts · 2 votes
3y
Quote from @Corby Goade:

Tell us more about your strategy- there's a huge difference between house hacking by having a few roommates and converting a SFH to a MFH or building an ADU. What are you trying to do?
My concern is that my ideal property is a 4 bed 2 bath single family home. These are all in residential zones. However with living in a college town and house hacking, I will be renting out each room individually. So I would say I'm trying to turn a SFH into a MFH. With that said one of the main things I've seen is that no more than 2 unrelated people may live in the same unit in a residential zone. So this holds me back to only being able to rent to one other person, leaving the other two bedrooms empty. this also raises the question whether or not I can make each bedroom a unit and that's problem solved. I've tried to reach out to my zoning department but they don't get back.
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Joe Norman
Property Manager · Baltimore, MD · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
3y
Quote from @Zack Schlund:

Understood! That would be less of a zoning issue, and more of a local ordinance (at least in my area). Are rental licenses required in your area? If so I would start by speaking with someone in the office that issues them. Good luck!
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Phillip AustinPro Member
Property Manager · Denver, CO · Member since 2023 · 236 posts · 204 votes
3y
Call the zoning office and start asking questions.
I had an occupancy issue at one of my properties in Denver, CO. My client was overly concerned and in somewhat of a panic. When I spoke with someone at the zoning office, they literally laughed and told me they don't enforce certain that specific restriction. A 30 second phone call solved a dramatic situation that went on for days.
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Carini Rochester
Investor · Rochester, NY · Member since 2016 · 576 posts · 358 votes
3y
@Phillip Austin Agreed. The zoning ordinance is there in case there is a problem, then the zoning official has some legal framework to enforce better behavior. In theory, you would be violating the letter of the law. As long as no neighbor complains, the town has no reason to care that three or four unrelated people live there. Enforce a parking policy that won't inconvenience the neighbors. Enforce a quiet living environment (college kids?) The people you move in to the bedrooms have to sound, look and behave like the rest of the neighborhood.
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