If a shed is registered as 1 of 2 buildings on a lot, can you get an authorization to make it liveable?

A shed in the back of the yard of a house we’re thinking of buying has been turned by current owner into a “guest bedroom” with split AC/heating, but no bathroom, without filing the job at DOB. Our lawyer says it’s an illegal conversion and would have to be pulled down or returned to previous shed condition to avoid potential issues. However, we just found on the DOB website that 2 buildings are registered for this lot, the second building being probably the shed (the other one would be the house itself). Wouldn’t the fact that it appears on the DOB website mean that the space is legally recognized and that it would be possible to get a permit to add a bathroom to it and turn it into liveable space? Thank you all for your help 🙂

wanderer

in Building Code 12 years and 4 months ago

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elbow | 12 years and 4 months ago

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I would recommend that you attend homeowner’s night at the Department of Builidings.  I think they still hold them on Tuesdays from 4 pm to 5:30 pm.  My sense is that you wouldn’t be able to legally add a bathroom in the shed, which is defined as a small building to be used for storage .

wanderer | 12 years and 4 months ago

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Thanks, bklnite! We thought the same, and as most neighboring houses seem to have similar structures, that’s indeed not too worrying. What would be more bothering would be to try and add a bathroom to that space at some point and being unable to do so legally. We were kind of counting on that as livable space, but could probably negotiate a bit on the price with this argument. Ah, the buyers’ life…

Bklnite | 12 years and 4 months ago

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Your lawyer is mostly likely right that it’s an illegal conversion. On the other hand I wouldn’t worry about it too much. I don’t see why it would have to be pulled down or returned to a previous condition. As long as you’re not buying the house depending on the shed as a bedroom you need you should be OK. Potential issues are related to the likelihood of unhappy neighbors calling 311 to complain.

wanderer | 12 years and 4 months ago

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Thanks for your question, Elbow. The house was built circa 1899 and there’s not C of O, nor was there ever any job filed with DOB.  Which is what makes it all worrying and confusing to us…

elbow | 12 years and 4 months ago

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Is there a C of O for the shed building?  How does it describe the permissable use and occupancy?