A buyer purchases a property zoned for single-family residential use that was converted to two-family use 2 years ago. To legally use the property as a two-family residence, the new owner must first:

Petitioning the circuit court for relief is not a typical step in addressing zoning issues. This option usually pertains to legal disputes or appeals against local government decisions rather than directly resolving zoning compliance. Zoning matters are typically handled through local administrative processes, such as seeking a variance.

Destroying the current structure is an extreme action that is unnecessary and impractical. The owner can seek a variance to legally use the existing property for its intended two-family purpose without the need for demolition and reconstruction, which would incur significant time and costs.

While documenting the property as a two-family residence on the deed might seem like a solution, it does not change the zoning classification. Zoning laws dictate how a property can be used, and merely updating the deed won’t make the two-family use legal unless a variance is obtained to permit this change.