MULTIPLE OCCUPANCY

Article 4 of the Zoning Ordinance establishes and 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.

The use standards in Article 4 of the Zoning Ordinance permit occupancy of a dwelling unit by no more than one of the following: 
 

1. Two or more persons related by blood or marriage and any number of natural children, foster children, stepchildren, adopted children, or children in kinship care, and with no more than two roomers or boarders;
2. One or two persons with their dependent children, including natural children, foster children, stepchildren, adopted children, or children in kinship care, functioning as a single household;
3. Up to four persons not related by blood or marriage functioning as a single household;
4. A group residential facility; or
5. A group household (only permitted in certain zoning districts and only with Board of Supervisors or Board of Zoning Appeals approval, as part of a rezoning, special exception, or special permit).

MULTIPLE DWELLING UNIT

The Zoning Ordinance allows no more than one dwelling unit per lot, regardless of the size of the lot, with some limited exceptions. A dwelling unit is a residential building or portion of a building that is arranged, designed, used, or intended for residential occupancy with provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation. Exceptions to one dwelling on a lot include when an Accessory Living Unit permit has been approved and issued. Such permit allows a second dwelling unit to be established in conjunction with, and clearly subordinate to, a single family detached dwelling unit.