Over Occupancy

In 2019, the City was issued a judgement and court order from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio Western Division about the City's occupancy standards within the zoning code (150.19 and 150.20 in combination with the definitions in 150.03). These sections of the zoning code essentially limited single family dwellings, zoned R-1 and R-2, from having more than three unrelated people living within a respective home.

What the Court Ordered

The Court ordered that the three unrelated standard cannot be used. The Court further ordered that the permitted occupancy level shall be one unrelated person per bedroom, authorized bedrooms as determined "according to the plans for the residence as originally submitted to the building official with the jurisdiction over the City of Bowling Green or as subsequently altered pursuant to permit duly issued by said building official. Nothing in this Order shall be construed as limiting new construction or new additions to existing structures in the future so long as a permit has been issued by said building official. Under no circumstances shall dining rooms, living rooms, kitchens, or any space other than a designated bedroom, be counted as bedrooms for purposes of this Order."