Q: Converting mixed-use building to residential
I'm looking for houses and happened across a gorgeous old building with shop space downstairs and 3 apartments upstairs. I'm interested in living in one of the units, renting out the others, and using the shop space as an art studio. What zoning issues might I face with this? I find the municipal code to be tough to understand. I'm willing to hire a lawyer if it's going to be an involved project, but if I just need to file some papers with Cincinnati city council then I'll be able to save the cost.
A: You need to hire an architect familiar with conversions, residential construction, and the local building and zoning code to assess what you plan to do, what you must do to comply, or if any variances will be needed. The architect should have good rapport with the folks at building and zoning.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
