Owner Occupied MF, zoned Single Family

[Bill Regan]

Hello,

Exploring the feasibility of getting an owner occupied, FHA financed triplex in Dunedin, FL. When I look the property up on the county website it is zoned single family.

It's an older home so I assume it has been divided and added to over the years, probably prior to rigorous permitting and zoning laws.

I would like to ensure that everything is legal prior to possessing the property, and imagine I would need it to be so to use the rental income towards the loan.

So I guess the questions are:

Is it silly to think this could be re-zoned?

Would it be opening a can of worms to talk to the city about the accessory dwellings on the property?

Thanks BP!

[Cathy Svercl]

1. if you found the property on the County zoning map, it is in un-incorporated Pinellas County with an address in Dunedin.  so if you talk to anyone, it would be the County.  if you are not sure, the Property Appraiser's webpage will tell you which Tax District the taxes are paid into, either City of Dunedin, or un-incorporated Dunedin Fire District area.

2. the Property Appraiser's webpage will tell you some of the Building Permits for the property.  for other permits (if un-incorporated County), research the property at www<dot>VelocityHall<dot>com.  dividing a house into 3 units would have required a permit at any point in living memory.

3. most areas require a Landlord/Rental Tax be paid.  check if the current owners are paying that.  if not, you would have to right any wrongs, including turning the property back into single family, if required.  however, some areas of City of Dunedin do allow accessory dwellings.

4. anything could be re-zoned.  you have a better chance if the property is located adjacent to a different zoning district.  some building officials will give you a verbal, un-official response before you start the re-zoning process.