Baltimore Multi Family
Investor · Fort Washington, MD · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
Baltimore Multi Family
Most Popular Reply
And then did some more searching, and found the actual zoning code relating to conversions. Good to read this (it's § 3 305 in the city zoning code)
http://legislativereference.baltimorecity.gov/site...
§ 3-305. Conversion of single- or two-family dwellings.
(a) Prohibited conversions.
(1) Except as otherwise specified in this section, in all districts: (i) no building used as a single-family dwelling may be altered or changed to be used for occupancy by more than 1 family; and (ii) no building used as a two-family dwelling may be altered or changed to be used for occupancy by more than 2 families.
(2) For purposes of this subsection, an empty building is considered to be a single-family dwelling unless it was last lawfully used, in compliance with the normal bulk requirements of the district in which it is located, as a dwelling for 2 or more families.
(b) Conditional use conversion — authorized.
(1) (i) In all districts except the R-2, R-4, R-5, and R-6, the Board may authorize, as a conditional use, the conversion of a building for use by more than 1 family, as long as the number of dwelling and efficiency units to be allowed conforms with the applicable principal-permitted-use bulk regulations for the district in which the building is located. (ii) When authorizing a conversion, the Board may impose conditions and restrictions under § 14-103 that include a limit on the number of occupants.
(2) In the R-7 and R-8 Districts, the conversion of a 1- or 2-family dwelling to additional dwelling or efficiency units may be authorized only by a conditional-use ordinance and only as long as the number of dwelling and efficiency units to be allowed conforms with the applicable principal-permitted-use bulk regulations for the district in which the building is located.
(c) Conditional use conversion — procedures.
(1) In addition to the requirements of Title 14 {“Conditional Uses”} of this article, the following procedures apply to a conditional use requested under this section.
(2) When the application is filed, the applicant must submit to the Department of Housing and Community Development and the Department of Planning plats and construction and floor plans adequate for the Department’s review.
(3) The Department of Housing and Community Development must submit to the Board a written advisory recommendation. However, the Board may proceed without that recommendation if the Department fails to submit it within 3 weeks of the date the Department received the plats and plans.
(4) The Department of Planning must submit to the Board a written advisory recommendation on the effect of the proposed conversion on the neighborhood. However, the Board may proceed without that recommendation if the Department fails to submit it within 3 weeks of the date the Board asked for it. (City Code, 1976/83, art. 30, §2.0-12.) (Ord. 99-425; Ord. 99-547; Ord. 99-537; Ord. 02-475; Ord. 11-525; Ord. 12-040; Ord. 14-219.)
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So the way I interpret this (please note, I am not a lawyer, this is not legal advice) is that they MAY approve your conversion based on a "conditional use", which is based on a number of things, including but not limited to the neighborhood prevalence of multi-unit apartments, etc.
Here's a site with all of the city codes - very easy to navigate: http://legislativereference.baltimorecity.gov/city-codes
16 Replies
I just did a quick Google search and found this:
http://www.cphabaltimore.org/2015/10/multifamily-c...
And then this as a follow up early this year: http://www.cphabaltimore.org/2016/01/the-baltimore...
Looks like it's pretty difficult to convert a SFH/row house to a multi-family. I'd proceed with caution and spend some time learning the zoning code. If your deal depends on doing the conversion, I'd get a lawyer who is local and understands the code.
To be fair to the city of Baltimore, multi-unit conversions are something that is strongly regulated in many municipalities.
- Severna Park, MD · Member since 2013 · 7k+ posts · 7k+ votes10y
You will have a great civics lesson once you start
And then did some more searching, and found the actual zoning code relating to conversions. Good to read this (it's § 3 305 in the city zoning code)
http://legislativereference.baltimorecity.gov/site...
§ 3-305. Conversion of single- or two-family dwellings.
(a) Prohibited conversions.
(1) Except as otherwise specified in this section, in all districts: (i) no building used as a single-family dwelling may be altered or changed to be used for occupancy by more than 1 family; and (ii) no building used as a two-family dwelling may be altered or changed to be used for occupancy by more than 2 families.
(2) For purposes of this subsection, an empty building is considered to be a single-family dwelling unless it was last lawfully used, in compliance with the normal bulk requirements of the district in which it is located, as a dwelling for 2 or more families.
(b) Conditional use conversion — authorized.
(1) (i) In all districts except the R-2, R-4, R-5, and R-6, the Board may authorize, as a conditional use, the conversion of a building for use by more than 1 family, as long as the number of dwelling and efficiency units to be allowed conforms with the applicable principal-permitted-use bulk regulations for the district in which the building is located. (ii) When authorizing a conversion, the Board may impose conditions and restrictions under § 14-103 that include a limit on the number of occupants.
(2) In the R-7 and R-8 Districts, the conversion of a 1- or 2-family dwelling to additional dwelling or efficiency units may be authorized only by a conditional-use ordinance and only as long as the number of dwelling and efficiency units to be allowed conforms with the applicable principal-permitted-use bulk regulations for the district in which the building is located.
(c) Conditional use conversion — procedures.
(1) In addition to the requirements of Title 14 {“Conditional Uses”} of this article, the following procedures apply to a conditional use requested under this section.
(2) When the application is filed, the applicant must submit to the Department of Housing and Community Development and the Department of Planning plats and construction and floor plans adequate for the Department’s review.
(3) The Department of Housing and Community Development must submit to the Board a written advisory recommendation. However, the Board may proceed without that recommendation if the Department fails to submit it within 3 weeks of the date the Department received the plats and plans.
(4) The Department of Planning must submit to the Board a written advisory recommendation on the effect of the proposed conversion on the neighborhood. However, the Board may proceed without that recommendation if the Department fails to submit it within 3 weeks of the date the Board asked for it. (City Code, 1976/83, art. 30, §2.0-12.) (Ord. 99-425; Ord. 99-547; Ord. 99-537; Ord. 02-475; Ord. 11-525; Ord. 12-040; Ord. 14-219.)
---
So the way I interpret this (please note, I am not a lawyer, this is not legal advice) is that they MAY approve your conversion based on a "conditional use", which is based on a number of things, including but not limited to the neighborhood prevalence of multi-unit apartments, etc.
Here's a site with all of the city codes - very easy to navigate: http://legislativereference.baltimorecity.gov/city-codes
- Investor · Fort Washington, MD · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes10y
Originally posted by @Lisa S.:
And then did some more searching, and found the actual zoning code relating to conversions. Good to read this (it's § 3 305 in the city zoning code)
http://legislativereference.baltimorecity.gov/site...
§ 3-305. Conversion of single- or two-family dwellings.
(a) Prohibited conversions.
(1) Except as otherwise specified in this section, in all districts: (i) no building used as a single-family dwelling may be altered or changed to be used for occupancy by more than 1 family; and (ii) no building used as a two-family dwelling may be altered or changed to be used for occupancy by more than 2 families.
(2) For purposes of this subsection, an empty building is considered to be a single-family dwelling unless it was last lawfully used, in compliance with the normal bulk requirements of the district in which it is located, as a dwelling for 2 or more families.
(b) Conditional use conversion — authorized.
(1) (i) In all districts except the R-2, R-4, R-5, and R-6, the Board may authorize, as a conditional use, the conversion of a building for use by more than 1 family, as long as the number of dwelling and efficiency units to be allowed conforms with the applicable principal-permitted-use bulk regulations for the district in which the building is located. (ii) When authorizing a conversion, the Board may impose conditions and restrictions under § 14-103 that include a limit on the number of occupants.
(2) In the R-7 and R-8 Districts, the conversion of a 1- or 2-family dwelling to additional dwelling or efficiency units may be authorized only by a conditional-use ordinance and only as long as the number of dwelling and efficiency units to be allowed conforms with the applicable principal-permitted-use bulk regulations for the district in which the building is located.
(c) Conditional use conversion — procedures.
(1) In addition to the requirements of Title 14 {“Conditional Uses”} of this article, the following procedures apply to a conditional use requested under this section.
(2) When the application is filed, the applicant must submit to the Department of Housing and Community Development and the Department of Planning plats and construction and floor plans adequate for the Department’s review.
(3) The Department of Housing and Community Development must submit to the Board a written advisory recommendation. However, the Board may proceed without that recommendation if the Department fails to submit it within 3 weeks of the date the Department received the plats and plans.
(4) The Department of Planning must submit to the Board a written advisory recommendation on the effect of the proposed conversion on the neighborhood. However, the Board may proceed without that recommendation if the Department fails to submit it within 3 weeks of the date the Board asked for it. (City Code, 1976/83, art. 30, §2.0-12.) (Ord. 99-425; Ord. 99-547; Ord. 99-537; Ord. 02-475; Ord. 11-525; Ord. 12-040; Ord. 14-219.)
---
So the way I interpret this (please note, I am not a lawyer, this is not legal advice) is that they MAY approve your conversion based on a "conditional use", which is based on a number of things, including but not limited to the neighborhood prevalence of multi-unit apartments, etc.
Here's a site with all of the city codes - very easy to navigate: http://legislativereference.baltimorecity.gov/city...
Great Info. I really appreciate it. It appears it may get complicated. I'm hoping that because it was a 2 unit before, maybe it will be easier. However, it will be fine as a single unit if everything fails. It will just cut into some of the cash flow. We shall see. Thanks again.
Mark
- Real estate investor · Pasadena, MD · Member since 2016 · 165 posts · 258 votes10y
If you really want a 2 unit there are plenty of them available in Baltimore. It would be easier to buy one already zoned than go through the aggravations to try to change the zoning with no guarantee of success. While you are going through the process are you going to leave the property empty? I would think that in order to make it a 2 unit again you will need to make repairs/modifications to the layout.
- Investor · Fort Washington, MD · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes10y
Thanks Lisa. From what I say, the 2 unit will make it cash flow more but it will be ok without it. It’s very cheap and is right down the street from another I have.3 or more units have be hard to come by for me, and this one is just sitting there. We shall see.
- Investor · Fort Washington, MD · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes10y
Thanks David. I will look at it a little closer but like I said, I’m familiar with the area and it’s relatively cheap. Someone told me to just go downtown and look it up to see what the situation is.
- Investor · Fort Washington, MD · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes10y
I may walk on this one. It was made in the 40s and looks like nothing was ever changed; not even the furniture. That means lead.
- Investor · Fort Washington, MD · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes10y
Well I have it under contract. I checked it out once but I will be performing a DIY inspection this weekend. Wish me luck.
- Investor · Fort Washington, MD · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes10y
Inspection went well and closing will be on the 17th.
- Investor · Fort Washington, MD · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes10y
Great news. It's still zoned as a 2 unit. I just have to spit everything out.
- Engineer · Bel Air, MD · Member since 2009 · 136 posts · 24 votes10y
Most multi family properties in maryland seem very expensive compared to other states. Or is it just me?
- Glen Rock, NJ · Member since 2016 · 27 posts · 6 votes10y
Did you sign a purchase agreement yet?
- Real Estate Agent · Washington, D.C. · Member since 2012 · 17k+ posts · 30k+ votes10y
Originally posted by @Thorney Gibson:
Most multi family properties in maryland seem very expensive compared to other states. Or is it just me?
Basic economic theory of supply and demand. Low supply high demamd, leads to higher prices.
District Invest Group545 Reviews - Investor · Fort Washington, MD · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes10y
I've never priced anything outside of MD. This one I picked up is very cheap in my opinion.
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