NJ is passing a law that will require EVERY neighborhood to allow garages, attics, basements and back yard structures to be used as apartments.
Rather than create new homeowners they cannot wait to destroy the middle class and all single family neighborhoods.
And of course these states are loaded with many millions of illegals.
I’d love a basement, we live in Tornado Alley and on the New Madrid Fault line, and all houses are flat slabs. Nice attic though.
The key word is allow. I am guessing such uses were often forbidden under local zoning laws. This change just means local authorities can’t ban that use. It does not mean owners must turn those structures to such uses.
The big problem (which someone surely pointed out) is that using an attic and basement for apartment space will require quite a bit of upgrade to meet basic life-safety codes. But the choice should be up to the owner. This is a restoration of property rights.
Towns can still do things like have parking requirements for such change of use and make sure all health/housing codes are still met. For example if the septic tank (for those not on municipal sewer) is not large enough for more occupants that would be reason to reject the permit application.