Purchasing a duplex in Venice, Florida zoned as single family RSF-3

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Purchasing a duplex in Venice, Florida zoned as single family RSF-3

Elijah Romer
Member since 2020 · 1 post · 1 vote

Complete newbie, first time buyer here. I'm looking at purchasing a property that is zoned as single family RSF-3 as a house hack, however the MLS listing has it listed as a duplex and it does indeed have two units. Is this risky/ something to avoid/ can it be rezoned? There doesn't obviously seem to be a zoning exception on it.

Thanks for any help guys, been a long time coming getting to a position where I can purchase and I want to make sure I think through every angle. 

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  • John O'LearyPro Member
    Lender · Winter Park, FL · Member since 2021 · 738 posts · 412 votes
    1y

    If you plan to use financing, the property will most likely need to be conforming. It’s possible that someone converted it into a duplex without proper permits or rezoning, or it may simply be incorrectly zoned

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  • Erik EstradaBusiness Member
    Lender · Member since 2022 · 6k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    1y
    Quote from @Elijah Romer:

    Complete newbie, first time buyer here. I'm looking at purchasing a property that is zoned as single family RSF-3 as a house hack, however the MLS listing has it listed as a duplex and it does indeed have two units. Is this risky/ something to avoid/ can it be rezoned? There doesn't obviously seem to be a zoning exception on it.

    Thanks for any help guys, been a long time coming getting to a position where I can purchase and I want to make sure I think through every angle. 


     Is the property legal but non-conforming? Can the existing structure be re-built as is?

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  • Wale LawalBusiness Member
    Real Estate Broker · Houston | Dallas | Austin, TX · Member since 2018 · 5k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    1y

    @Elijah Romer

    Great question—and congrats on getting to the buying stage! If a property is physically a duplex but zoned single-family (RSF-3), it could present issues with permits, insurance, financing, or future resale. It’s not necessarily a deal-breaker, but you’ll want to confirm if the second unit is legal or “grandfathered in” by the city, and whether it can be legally rented. Always check with your local zoning or planning department before moving forward.

    Good luck!

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