UPDATE: Salt Lake City officials are taking immediate action to address the housing crisis by potentially redefining what constitutes a “family” in housing regulations. City planners are exploring a significant change that may allow an unlimited number of individuals to live together in a single household, a move that could reshape the local housing landscape.
City Council members, led by Councilman Dan Dugan, unanimously supported a push for rewriting the existing code, which currently restricts household compositions. “We already have a lot of places now where there’s probably a large number of people living in small places because they can’t afford anything else,” Dugan stated during the meeting. The council is urging the planning and civil enforcement divisions to draft an ordinance that reflects these urgent housing needs.
Currently, Salt Lake City defines “family” as either any number of related individuals, two unrelated individuals and their children, or up to three unrelated individuals living together. This outdated definition, which has been in place since 1978, does not allow for any mixing of these categories. Planning Director Nick Norris described the existing regulations as “absurd” for modern living conditions.
The city’s definition of family originated in 1927, permitting any number of individuals to reside together. Although it was refined in 1955 to necessitate “some domestic bond,” it has evolved into a convoluted set of rules that some argue no longer meets the needs of residents facing skyrocketing housing costs.
The council’s recent request for a review of the family definition is part of an ongoing effort to improve housing affordability across Salt Lake City. As housing prices continue to rise, many residents find themselves squeezed out of the market, leading to a rise in multi-family living situations out of necessity.
The proposed changes aim to simplify the regulations and provide more flexibility for residents, allowing them to cohabitate in ways that reflect current economic realities. “It’s really important that we adapt our zoning codes to the needs of our community,” said Norris.
This urgent proposal comes at a critical time as housing affordability remains a pressing issue in Salt Lake City. The council will review the proposed changes in upcoming meetings, and residents are encouraged to stay informed about these developments.
As discussions progress, the city is preparing for potential public hearings to gather community input on the proposed changes. The outcome of these discussions could have profound implications for housing policies in Salt Lake City, impacting many families and individuals searching for affordable living options.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops, and learn how these changes could reshape the future of housing in Utah’s capital.
