It is common to find accessory apartments in Orem houses. Many times, the upgraded area is called a “mother-in-law” apartment, and then illegally rented out. In 2004, Orem decided to ban the approval of new accessory apartments due to some parking complaints. However, this did not stop the construction or rental of basement apartments. All it did was create a whole new class of tax-paying lawbreakers.
After several public hearings, on June 10, 2012, the Orem City Council voted to once again allow the construction and approval of accessory apartments. Several regulatory steps are needed to obtain legal approval for existing apartments or to build a new one. Here is a summary of the new rules to get approval from the City of Orem:
Orem Accessory Apartment Restrictions
- Maximum bedrooms: Two
- Maximum square footage: 1200
- Minimum square footage: 300
- Minimum ceiling height: seven feet
- Parking requirements: Three paved pads
- Outside entrance: I can’t face the street
Approval fees
- Sewer and water impact fee: $1895.85
- Building permit: $60 – $500
occupancy requirements
- The owner must reside in the place
- The owner must sign an affidavit that both units will not be rented simultaneously; In other words, the owner must continue to live in the house and not turn it into an illegal duplex.
- Rental of the apartment restricted to one family or three singles
fire safety requirements
- One hour fire rated construction between units, under stairs and in the boiler room
- 20 minute fire rated self-closing door(s) between units and oven room
- Handrails should be installed where necessary
- Window size and window opening minimums
- Smoke detectors in each bedroom and hallway.
- Carbon Monoxide detector installed on each level of the house
Mechanical System Requirements
- Own source heating and cooling: A/C and system return air from one unit cannot be mixed with the other
- Adequate amount of fuel air for gas appliances.
- Suitable outside vent for clothes dryer
- Bathroom and kitchen countertop outlets must have a ground fault interrupter receptacle or circuit breaker.
- Electrical circuits serving bedrooms must be protected against arc faults.
A legal accessory apartment can be a godsend for both the owner and the tenants. Many residents are unable to make their home payments in full for a variety of reasons. Renting an accessory apartment provides much-needed income from an area of the house that may not even have been used.
College students and young married couples have the opportunity to live in a single-family neighborhood, often in much more pleasant surroundings than would have been possible otherwise.
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