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Single-family dwelling versus "boarding house"

Inspector Gadget

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Joined
Mar 5, 2020
Messages
1,162
Location
New Brunswick
Interesting discussion in our office today.
A while back, the Supreme Court determined that planning documents (zoning regulations) cannot define what a "family" is.
We have a potential application for a renovation of a house to create a four-unit, independent living complex for senior women. In my world, it's a four-unit boarding house, but in the planning world, it's a single-family dwelling.

Which made me think. What's the difference between a 10-occupant boarding house and 10 students renting out a single-family house?

My initial reaction would be along the lines of defining things by tenancy: if there are 10 people in a house, but one rental/lease agreement, then it's a single-family house. If there are 10 people in a house, and 10 different rental/lease agreements, it's a boarding house. I think this is defensible, since suites-versus-rooms is defined in Code by tenancy.

Thoughts?
 
In my experience, boarding houses tend to be very up front in what they are doing. If they are not expressly telling you they are one, they probably aren't.
 
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