You asked how many "in-law" apartments and mobile homes there are in Milford, Stratford, and Trumbull, and what the statutory and local zoning definitions are of these living units.

IN-LAW AND MOBILE HOME UNITS


Table 1 shows legal in-law apartments and licensed mobile home lots in mobile home parks for the three towns. Stratford and Trumbull zoning do not permit mobile home parks. (We will update this report when we receive a count for Trumbull in-law units. )

Table 1. In-Law and Mobile Home Units in Three Towns

IN-LAW APARTMENT DEFINITIONS

Milford, Stratford, and Trumbull have similar definitions of in-law or accessory apartments. They each:

· allow such units only in areas zoned for single-family homes;

· require accessory units have their own kitchen, three-fixture bath, and one bedroom;

· require either the accessory or primary unit be owner-occupied;

· prohibit an additional front entrance in order to maintain the neighborhood's single-family character; and

· specify minimum and maximum sizes for accessory units.

Milford requires the occupants of the two units to be related by blood, marriage, or legal adoption. The accessory unit must connect to the primary unit via an interior doorway, and it must be at least 425 square feet and cannot exceed 800 square feet. The accessory unit must use the existing unit's driveway and utilities. It cannot be used as an income-generating unit or be converted from a garage or other auxiliary building.

Stratford requires the occupants to be family members. The accessory unit must connect to the other unit via an interior doorway. It must be at least 400 square feet and cannot exceed 800 square feet or 25% of the total livable area of the overall residence whichever is smaller.

Trumbull does not require (1) the occupants to be family members, or (2) an interior-connecting doorway. Accessory units must be at least 300 square foot and cannot exceed 800 square feet or 25% of the total livable area of the overall residence whichever is greater. Trumbull requires at least four off-street parking spaces in total for a primary and accessory residence dwelling. An accessory unit may be a pre-existing garage or other building, but it may not be expanded in order to create an accessory unit.

MOBILE HOMES DEFINITIONS

Milford zoning regulations define a manufactured mobile home as "a structure that is transportable in one or more sections, built on a permanent chassis, and designed to be used with or without a permanent foundation when connected to the required utilities. It does not include recreational vehicles or travel trailers for purposes of compliance with flood-proofing requirements. "

The statute regulating mobile home parks defines a "mobile manufactured home" as an intrinsically mobile detached residential unit that, if built on or after June 15, 1976, is built according to federal construction standards, is designed for long-term occupancy, and is placed on rigid supports at the site where it is to be occupied. It must have sleeping accommodations, a flush toilet, a bathtub or shower, a kitchen, and plumbing and electrical connections (CGS § 21-64). The statutes provide separate definitions of mobile homes for tax and motor vehicle purposes.

JM: eh