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LEGAL ISSUES IN TI-E REGULATION OF ACCESSORY APARTMENTS <br />I. Statutory Authority (References) <br />a. Zoning generally: Minnesota Statutes 462.357 (use of land, not who uses it) <br />b. Conditional or Special Use: M.S. 462.3595 <br />c. Use Variance: M.S. 462.357, Subd. 6(2) <br />d. Licensed as Business: City Code (St. Paul: Chapter 4 12) <br />e. Spot Zoning: M.S. 462.357 <br />2. Constitutional Problerru <br />a. do regulations propose "reasonable" restriction of land use? <br />b. do regulatory procedures take due process and procedural rights into account? <br />c. do regulations propose "reasonable" classifications of users of land? - <br />age /area /relationship, etc. <br />d. how do regulations relate to any "vested rights" (existing, accepted use of <br />property) ?; non - conforming use permit as option <br />3. Other Legal Concerns <br />a. anti - trust: regulating number of units /area may be in violation <br />b. income taxes: people may resist regulations or not apply to be in conformance <br />to avoid declaring rental income to IRS <br />c. property taxes: resistance out of concern for tax increases due to <br />improvements <br />d. compliance with community Fire, Safety, Health, Building and Housing Codes <br />4. Practical Problems <br />a. clear definitions in ordinance, especially for "accessory apartment" <br />b. policy /purpose statement in ordinance <br />c. clear, explanatory statement for each item in ordinance <br />d. political decisions regarding accessory apartments: <br />-- to legalize or ignore <br />-- city's willingness to enforce <br />-- property owners' willingness to comply <br />3 <br />33 <br />