A “Duplex” that can not legally be rented out to multiple families due to zoning laws is usually classified as a “Mother in Law Apartment.” In Cache County we find quite a few mother in law apartments in Logan Utah.

With Utah State University located in Cache Valley, there has always been strong demand for rentals in Logan.  Up through the 60’s many houses in Logan were built and converted into duplexes to maximize rental potential. In the 70’s, in effort to improve neighborhood standards, zoning laws were made, and became illegal to rent residential  homes out to more than three unrelated students.  Unless homeowners filed with the city, to have their homes “grandfathered” as legal Logan Duplexes, these properties quickly lost a lot of value and potential.

Logan still has many of these “non” conforming duplexes for sale. While some have a solid rental history, and can be grandfathered as legal duplexes, most cannot.

If you’re looking to buy a duplex in Logan Utah that you plan to rent out to other people, make sure you check to see that it is properly grandfathered. Otherwise, you might be buying an investment with a lot less value than you think.

The debate in Logan over duplexes, rentals and community integrity has been a huge one over the years. Right now the big issue in Logan is the requirement of property owners to file for landlord licenses.