Today I’m going to be addressing a question about expanding a single-family home into a multi-family property.
Recently, a past client of mine told me they were thinking of expanding their single-family home into a multi-family home. They essentially wanted to add an in-law suite. Their question was, “Is this possible on a lot that is zoned for a single-family property?”
The answer is, yes, you can. However, different counties and neighborhoods will have different regulations pertaining to this.
It is possible to convert a single-family home to a multi-family property even on a single-family lot, but there will be some things to think about.
One thing that is largely the same across the board, though, is multi-family properties on a single-family lot must share one meter. This goes for the water meter, the electrical meter, the gas meter, etc. The point is, you aren’t going to have dual meters.
So, the main thing you need to consider when thinking about this kind of expansion is how you will handle splitting up expenses.
Let’s say the property you added on is a 1,000 square foot space while the main property is a 3,000 square foot space. If there are two people living in each space, how will you divide the bills? The water usage for each space may be similar, but it’s likely that the electricity usage won’t be.
Of course, if the lot is zoned as multi-family, then you can have multiple units and separate meters for each property.
There are certainly other, more in-depth factors to consider, but hopefully this gives you some insight into the question.
If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
