ESSENTIAL INFORMATION FOR RENTAL PROPERTY OWNERS
A Guide to Laws Regulating Zoning and Rental Licensing
LICENSING RENTAL PROPERTIES
Since 1972, all rental properties in the city of Mt. Pleasant have been licensed and inspected
annually. Staff in the Department of Building Safety (779-5302), and Planning (779-5347)
Departments, as well as the Fire Department (779-5105), welcomes inquiries by persons
interested in purchasing property for rental to the public. Following is information regarding City
ordinance, a virtual Rental 101. In addition, a compendium of landlord-tenant law, “A Practical
Guide for Tenants and Landlords,” is available for interested persons in the Community
Development office at City Hall, 320 W. Broadway, or in the Planning & Zoning Department
section of this web site.
BEFORE YOU BUY
Safeguard your investment by checking each potential rental with City officials (see above) to
make sure it meets Zoning Ordinance requirements, as follows:
Licensure
Is the property licensed for rental?
Does it meet the requirements of the Housing Licensing Code?
Legal Occupancy
How many tenants does the ordinance allow?
Will the rent from the legal number of occupants cash flow the purchase of the property?
Would the zoning ordinance support an increase in the current number of residents?
Parking
How many parking spaces are there?
Is the number sufficient to park the vehicles of all renters?
Is there room to expand the parking?
ZONING AND LEGAL OCCUPANCY
Legal occupancy is set according to Zoning Ordinance requirements for minimum lot size,
minimum square footage per occupant and available parking.
Family Rentals
In the R (Residential) districts, most rentals are designated as “family” rentals and
may not be occupied by more persons than one of the following family living
arrangements:
One or more persons related by blood, marriage, adoption or guardianship, plus not more
than one person not