How many people can live in a one-bedroom?

[bobobb.livejournal.com]

Does anyone know...
According to Somerville zoning laws, how many people can reside in a one-bedroom? I had assumed it was only two people, but I can't find anything on the city's website about it.

Comments

[elizabeth weinbloom (from livejournal.com)]

The only restriction is the limit on unrelated tenants in any rental unit, regardless of the unit's size Up to four unrelated tenants can share a unit, which is to say, four unrelated tenants can share a 1-bed but five unrelated tenants can't share a 5-bed house. Related tenants can be packed in like sardines.

Think this is silly and not the right way to address overcrowding issues? Write to your alderman.

-Liz-

[desiringsubject.livejournal.com]

Also, standard homeowner's policies prevent more than 2 unrelated boarders. So an owner occupied 5 bedroom would be likely to get de-insured if they admitted to their insurance company that they took in 3 boarders, even with one whole open bedroom available. But, like the zoning laws, owners can have as many related people as they want living there without endangering their policy.

[irilyth]

Does "boarders" imply "paying tenants"? Can you have unrelated friends living with you if you're not charging them rent?

[desiringsubject.livejournal.com]

You know? I don't know! I would assume that if something happened, you could call them guests. Guests are generally covered. But it's hard to say! I bet if you asked the insurance company they would err on the side of no. Because they err on the side of no, mostly.

[bobobb.livejournal.com]

Whoa - that's crazy! But works for my purposes. Thanks!

[achinhibitor.livejournal.com]

not the right way to address overcrowding issues

I don't know the history of this ordnance in particular, but adding such rules was really popular in the 1960s to prevent the formation of "communes".

[cos]

I've also heard about it in several towns as a way to prevent frat houses.

[mindstalk.livejournal.com]

San Francisco invented the related "minimum room size per person" as an anti-Chinese measure.

[smammy]

Note that many rental agreements contain occupancy limits as well.

[olszowka.livejournal.com]

There is a CRITICAL public meeting coming up that volunteers from Zone Smart have been calling our members about this week. Many of you committed to attending, some of you did not pickup so this email is to tell you that YOUR PRESENCE IS NEEDED. Here are the details:

What: Somerville Zoning Overhaul Public Meeting on Neighborhoods - http://www.somervillema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2015-11-12%20Zoning%20Meeting%20Poster.pdf

When: Monday at 6:30pm (Please come at 5:30pm, an hour beforehand, if you can in order to get organized, handout buttons to wear, and maximize our impact)

Where: 259 Lowell Street at the VNA Community Room.

Why: To show the Aldermen that we demand removal of the "no more than 4 unrelated" restriction from the zoning code. It raises housing costs by forcing bedrooms to stay unrented, it increases environmental burden by forcing new development, it makes most Co-op housing illegal, and it is unfair to home owners and tenants alike.

How Can You Help:
1. PLEASE CONFIRM WHETHER OR NOT YOU CAN ATTEND. If you can make it to the 5:30pm meeting (or anytime before 6:30pm) please indicate that as well.
2. Spread the word. Go to our Facebook Event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/497731313721533/ and share the event with others, and click "Going"

This ordinance will change when we unite and demand that it does, and we will never have a better opportunity than this overhaul. Please come out Monday night and join us.

Zone Smart Somerville
No More Than 4 Unrelated Is Outdated
www.zonesmartsomerville.org