Posted: | February 23, 2015 03:29 PM |
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From: | Representative Susan C. Helm |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Occupation of dwelling units by students and unrelated individuals |
In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation that would preempt any municipal ordinance that prohibits the occupation of a dwelling unit by students or unrelated individuals living together. Specifically, the legislation would preempt any municipal ordinance or regulation, regardless of its effective date, that prohibits the occupation of a dwelling unit based on the individual's matriculation status, or on the number of unrelated individuals sharing the dwelling unit. Matriculation status is defined in the legislation as the state of being enrolled in a postsecondary educational institution, including reasonable periods of time before and between periods of matriculation. Occupation of a dwelling unit by students or unrelated individuals would be based on the following: (1) reasonable and sufficient on street and off street parking for the number of vehicles registered to, or driven by, the occupants of the dwelling unit; (2) that no more than two individuals per bedroom may occupy the dwelling unit; and (3) that the dwelling unit does not have any unique health and safety concerns or unresolved code violations. It is entirely reasonable for a municipality to enact and enforce ordinances to regulate such things as parking, noise levels, health and safety concerns or code violations. But it is neither fair nor reasonable to approach these issues by singling out students or unrelated individuals living together based on an assumption that they are, or will be, problem citizens and undesirable neighbors. Please join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation. |
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Introduced as HB809