Introduction

At its meeting of December 7, 2009, Borough Council will consider enacting an amendment to the zoning ordinance to close an existing loophole that allows some homes to become student rentals.  The December 7, 2009 Borough Council meeting will be held in Room 304 of the State College municipal building beginning at 7:30 pm.  

The zoning amendment removes an exemption that allowed owners of properties to rent rooms to more than one student without obtaining a Student Home Permit.  This exemption has allowed students to buy houses and rent to two other students creating a de facto Student Home in areas where Student Homes would not otherwise be permitted by the zoning code.  Although any existing rentals under this exception would become non-conforming and allowed to continue renting to students, by eliminating the exemption, any house, whether owner-occupied or not, becomes a student home as soon as two or more unrelated students reside in the house and the minimum space separation between student homes and all other requirements to qualify for a student home rental permit become applicable. 

This ordinance may be downloaded as a PDF file.