You may want to rent a house with three or more other people, but you must be aware that you may be breaking the law and that you are taking certain risks. First, you may want to have more than three people in your group so you can save money by splitting costs four or five ways. But, if the extra person(s) is evicted under the zoning ordinance, the remaining people will still have to pay all of the rent and the utilities. This can become very expensive. Second, you may be the tenant who is forced to move. Finding a new place to live and moving in the middle of the semester can be very difficult, especially if you are in the middle of exams or term papers.

If, despite these risks, you still want to rent a house with more than three unrelated persons in your group, know the facts:

In 1987, 137 households were forced to comply with the three unrelated persons zoning ordinance. These individuals took a risk and the extra persons in the groups were evicted. In 1988, this number was 110, and as of May 30, 1989 there were 52 households that had to comply with the three unrelated persons zoning ordinance. You may call the Boulder Zoning Department at 441-3290 to see what zone a particular house is located in.

Accessory Units

The City of Boulder allows, by permit, accessory dwelling units. The accessory dwelling unit is defined as "an independent living unit included within a single-family dwelling, with separate kitchen, bath and sleeping facilities, and sharing, at most, an entrance, yard, and parking with the principal single-family home." To be legal, an accessory unit must have a permit from the City of Boulder and must meet the standards of the Boulder Housing Code. If you have further questions concerning accessory dwelling units (such as their location or their requirements) contact the Boulder Department of Planning and Community Development (441-3270).