Creating an upper apartment in my present home

[C Beth]

I presently live in a home that will easily lend itself to the creation of an upper apartment. It is in a residential area and I am sure that zoning does not allow for multi family residences. I could rent out rooms legally. Can I create an area in my home (with a private entrance) and rent it using some type of rommate agreement that will get around the zoning issue? Does anyone out there have experience with this.