Boston sets zoning limits on off-campus student housing

[hilldweller]

The Boston Zoning Commission set a limit of four yesterday on the number of college students who can live together off campus, a far-reaching decision that could spur a citywide crackdown on crowded student housing.

http://www.boston.com/news/education..._city_housing/

Trust me, having lived in one of Boston's student-infested neighborhoods, the proponents concerns are not overstated. The students (there are hundreds of thousands of them in the city) are disgusting neighbors and I would not want to be a homeowner in one of these neighborhoods.

[SGB]

http://www.boston.com/news/education..._city_housing/

Trust me, having lived in one of Boston's student-infested neighborhoods, the proponents concerns are not overstated. The students (there are hundreds of thousands of them in the city) are disgusting neighbors and I would not want to be a homeowner in one of these neighborhoods.

So, this applies to college students only? Any other unrelated group of 4 or more can continue to share the same dwelling unit?

I hear lawsuit!

Opponents, many of them property owners and college students, said the occupancy limit violates their property rights and, by focusing just on students and not other large groups of renters, unfairly singles out specific people.

While I agree with the intent, and think the law may discriminate against those college students who actually know how to behave in off-campus housing. There must be a few, right?

[KSharpe]

Iowa City has a similar ordinance- I believe no more than 3 unrelated persons can live together. I fully support it- students are horrible to live near.

[mgk920]

What kind of black market problems are there in cities with very restrictive student housing cohabitation ordinances?

Mike

[jmello]

So, this applies to college students only? Any other unrelated group of 4 or more can continue to share the same dwelling unit?

I hear lawsuit!

Since when are "college students" a protected class? I don't think so.

[SGB]

Since when are "college students" a protected class? I don't think so.

They aren't a protected class, but in this case they are being treated differently from other households of non-family members. Example: a party-loving household of 4 or more unrelated municipal planning consultants could have a similar negative impact on a neighborhood (the horror!), but would be immune from this local law.

That's all I'm saying....

[Mud Princess]

The follow-up in today's Boston Globe...

Realtors and students condemned the city's new occupancy restrictions against college students as unenforceable, invasive, and potentially discriminatory, but several legal specialists said yesterday that courts have consistently upheld similar measures in college towns elsewhere...

Some landlords are considering a legal challenge.

More here:
Students and Realtors Slam Limits

[hilldweller]

All the city has to do is rewrite the ordinance to take out any reference to college students directly. Then they could establish minimum living area requirements for the City, or even particular to the neighborhoods with the most problems. The owner would not get a rental occupany permit if the premises are in violation of the standards, simple as that. This idea that the ordinance is unenforceable is nonsense, plenty of cities have such a system.

And I agree with jmello that college students are not a protected class.

[jmello]

The City of Boston has had a restrictions on non-related cohabitants for a very long time. This is just a stricter ordinance.

See rooming house section at: http://www.cityofboston.gov/isd/hous...udentFlyer.pdf