Do you have to report to the county if you turn your singe family home into a multi-unit?

I moved into a rental unit and found that all three units on this property share one address. This made it difficult to have a phone turned on, to receive mail, to have anything delivered, etc. I was told a month after moving in that I would have to get a post office box (because I don't really have my own address). When I called to get a phone turned on the company was bewildered at my request, because they already have 4 separate lines, in two different account names. So I had to actually have them come to my house and run an additional line. This leaves me with only one jack in my house actually having service to it. It's like when you get your teenager their own line....like I am technically living in someone else's house - not my own unit.

So, I started to wonder if this could all be because the owner doesn't want the county to know she has more than one unit on this property. I looked up the tax records and it is listed as:

1 livable unit with 2 bed and 2 bath.

Now, let me explain. I have 2 bedrooms and 1 bath in my unit alone which is attached to but shares no common areas with the owner's unit and she has at least that many beds and baths. There are four people living in her unit. There is yet another unit, in a completely separate and unattached building that is not mentioned on the county records at all. There are two people renting that unit. But there is one, singular street address. No, unit 1,2 and 3. No apt. a, b, or c. ONE ADDRESS.

Is she trying to hide this? And is this legal (in Florida)?

These are not legal units. The county will more then likely make her tear them down, not simply stop renting them.

In the town in Texas I live in you are required to get this kind of thing approved. It is a local law. It may be different where you live.

Florida will also care. If the county is unaware of the multiple units, I'm willing to bet some construction permits were never requested either.

depends on what area of florida. But sounds like illegal apartments to me. Contact your local planning and zoning board about the approved use of the property.

If it is in one of the small areas of the state do not be surprised of the owner happens to be a county commissioner or relative of one and nothing will ever be done about it.

This would vary by county, but odds are that it should have been reported to the county. The county usually has to grant permission for this type of thing as tax rates, water and utility usage are all affected. Me thinks your landlord is pulling a fast one. If you plan on reporting it, you'd be well advised to have another place to live lined up.

Its probably an illegal conversion. You can check with the applicable city/county building and zoning department - then get ready to move.

This needs to be approved by the county you're in, but people do it all the time. Your options are: 1. report her and probably be evicted as you're living in an illegal multi-unit building; or 2. deal with it and find a new place when your lease is up.

Good luck to you.