Code Enforcement Rules

You may know it when you see it — too many people living in a house, or people living in a garage, basement or shed.

However, the county’s zoning, building and safety codes set out what’s legal. These codes define how many people can live in a house, how much space they need and what’s considered safe.

How many people can live in a house?

The zoning ordinance (Article 2, Part 5) limits how many people can live in a single residence. In general:

• No more than one family, plus two renters, may live in one house.
• Or, no more than four unrelated people may live in one house.

However, the rules define seven ways that more than one person can live in a residence

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How much space is required in a home?

The county’s building code says bedrooms must be:

• 70 square feet for one person
• 100 square feet for two people
• 150 square feet for three people

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What are the safety requirements for a residence?

Every residence must meet the following requirements, according to:

Smoke Alarms: At a minimum, the county code (Section 61-5-1) says there must be:

• 1 smoke alarm outside each bedroom, including basement bedrooms
• 1 smoke alarm on each floor of the house
  
  

Emergency Exits: At a minimum, there must be:

• Two means of exit — one of which must go directly outside — for each bedroom.
  
  

Basements: There are also other safety rules for bedrooms in basements. These include requirements for lighting, stairways, and fire safety.