The University of Idaho Argonaut

The Moscow City Council approved an ordinance Monday that will reduce the limit of non-related people living in single-family house or apartment from six people to four. The council passed the ordinance with a two-thirds majority vote and approved the ordinance under suspension of the rules that requires three complete and separate readings.

The ordinance states there are exceptions for each of Moscow’s four residential districts, which could allow more than four unrelated people in one home as long as they meet the specified requirements, including off-street parking and making sure the use of the residence is conducive with the rest of the surrounding neighborhood.

Each of the districts is measured by how many single-family dwellings there are in the area.

“We provide an exception for up to six people (living in one home) if they’re living in harmony with the surrounding community,” said Bill Belknap, community development director of Moscow.

Residents who want to live in a single-family home with up to five other people would have to pay an application fee and go through a public hearing where neighbors could give input.

The application fee would be between $100 and $230, Belknap said.

Residents currently living with more than four non-related people will not have to conform to the new ordinance.

“It is provided that people could continue (living) legally within the established pre-existing uses,” said Randy Fife, Moscow city attorney.

Fife said the ordinance must be printed in the city’s newspaper for public viewing before it becomes a law. The Moscow-Pullman Daily News is considered the city’s newspaper, and the ordinance should be printed on Saturday, Fife said.

Belknap said enforcement of the new ordinance will “be a challenge.”

The first step to creating awareness about the changes would be an extensive public education campaign, he said.

“We would talk to ASUI, rental associations and property managers to educate people on what’s allowed and what is not allowed,” Belknap said.

Anne Clapperton, a planner for the community development department, said the particulars of the education campaign still have yet to be determined.

“Once the ordinance is into effect, the staff will determine how to best put the project into motion,” Clapperton said.

The ordinance was created after resident complaints about noise and parking issues intensified over the past three to four years. The city council formed a committee to investigate the claims which ultimately led to the drafting of the ordinance.