A bill is being voted upon in the NC General Assembly that would allow homeowners statewide to have built on their property a small additional home on their property. This would over-ride local zoning restrictions.
I think this is, on balance, a good idea.
The downside is that the additional homes, if large numbers were built, could increase traffic and congestion. However, the impact on individual neighborhoods would be minimal.
Think about the positives. We would be able to offer struggling family members a low cost or no-cost place of their own to live. We would be able to offer the same to struggling fellow church members. Similarly, folks such as these could assist elderly homeowners in the main house.
I have seen these types of dwellings being used in places like Charleston and Richmond with no appreciable consequence. It is much preferable to having multi-family sprouting up in residential neighborhoods. And it would increase the supply of housing, driving prices downward.
I hope the General Assembly passes this measure.
TC, I at one one time was tinkering with the idea of building a second home on my property in Greensboro. I determined that it could be done with one exception…. that it not be a rental.
Of course, it would be just fine if the General Assembly passes the bill.
And Fred, I think it would be perfectly legitimate for a homeowner and property owner to build this second small home with the intention of renting it out for income and to increase one’s property value. There is nothing wrong with that. In fact, it would be a good thing for some homeowners and it would help keep renting costs down.