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8.1. SR 02-17-2015Request for Action To Item Number Mayor and City Council 8.1 Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by General Business February 17, 2015 Chris Leeseber , Park Planner - Planner Item Description Reviewed by Single Family Housing Definition j remy Barnhart, Deputy Director, CODD Reviewed by Cal Portner, City Administrator Action Requested Receive information related to single family definition and application. Background /Discussion Staff receives several inquiries a year from homeowners and people considering purchasing a home in Elk River asking if they can rent a portion of the house or accessory structure to others. Occasionally, these inquiries are for "mother -in -law" apartments, intended for blood relatives. Additionally, there is desire to supplement the household income by offering additional living space, whether they are in the basement of a house or in an accessory structure (Accessory Dwellings). Other questions we receive include: why are two families living in my single family neighborhood? If these extra spaces are rentals, are they getting licenses and are they safe? Why can't I provide my family member a space in the "shed" to live? A single family house is considered a dwelling that provides habitable space for one independent housekeeping unit having cooking, sleeping, and sanitary facilities. According to the city code, famij means any number of individuals generally, but not necessarily, related by blood and marriage, living together at one location as a single, nouprofit housekeeping unit, as distinguished from a group occupying a boardinghouse or roominghouse, tourist home, hotel or motel. By this definition, a group of people related or unrelated occupying a structure could be considered "family." Therefore, staff does not evaluate a dwelling unit by who (related or not) occupies the unit, but by how the structure functions. In application, the presence of a separate entrance, bathroom, kitchen (stove, sink, and refrigerator), and bedroom have constituted a second dwelling unit. These are not permitted in single family districts. Other than licensing, the city does not regulate ownership. Rental of housing may occur in any district housing is permitted. If the City Council desires a change to the single family regulations, direct staff to explore one or both of these items: • A definition for Single Family Housing • Allowing Accessory Dwellings in single family districts A IR Financial Impact None Attachments ■ Definitions N:APublic Bodies \Agenda Packets \02 -17- 2015 \Final \x8.1 sr single family home definition.docx Elk River Definitions Dn)elling means a building which is designed or used exclusively for human habitation either permanently or transiently. Dn)elling single family, as used in article VI of this chapter, means a detached principal building containing one dwelling unit designed for occupancy by one family. Dn)elling unit, as used in article VI of this chapter, means one room, or rooms, located in a dwelling which are connected together constituting a separate, independent unit for owner occupancy, rental or lease, physically separated from any other room or dwelling unit which may be in the same structure, and containing independent cooking, sleeping and sanitary facilities, but not including hotels, motels, boardinghouses or rooming houses, tourist homes, mobile homes, travel trailers or tents. Dn)elling unit, as used in article VI, divisions 12 and 13, of this chapter, means any structure or portion of a structure, or other shelter, designed as short -term or long -term living quarters for one or more persons, including rental or timeshare accommodations such as motels, hotels, rooms and cabins. Famij means any number of individuals generally, but not necessarily, related by blood and marriage, living together at one location as a single, nonprofit housekeeping unit, as distinguished from a group occupying a boardinghouse or roominghouse, tourist home, hotel or motel.