Garages and Taxes.
#1
10-03-2018, 09:20 AM
Garages and Taxes.
I heard a rumor the county was planning on changing the tax laws on garages so they could put an additional tax on you if they determined you were using it for a living space. Couldn't find anything from the county on this, then I talked to someone on a city council. They didn't do it this year, but tabled it. Probably because it's an election year. It's going to be very loosely written, and will mostly be up to the assessment office. So if I had of put that Porcelain tile floor down, I may have been screwed. Even though I use the garage daily for vehicles. So before you trick your garage out, or start using it for storage, you might want to check on this.
#2
10-03-2018, 05:07 PM
Well, those types of laws tend to be very local but usually the intent is to prevent someone from turning the loft of a garage into an apartment they can rent out. Actually, in almost every locale you'd be hard put to LEGALLY build a living space in a garage that's actually used as a vehicle garage. Try getting past the applicable health, fire and electrical code requirements.
I doubt the type of floor in your garage will cause any problems unless its broadloom carpet. Can't see that an inspector will claim its a living space unless next to your pickup there's a king size bed and a porta-potty.
I doubt the type of floor in your garage will cause any problems unless its broadloom carpet. Can't see that an inspector will claim its a living space unless next to your pickup there's a king size bed and a porta-potty.
#3
10-04-2018, 05:36 PM
OP is in Maryland. Hard to say what the laws are there. In CA, any living spaces must be separated from the vehicle area with 5/8s drywall, and fire-proof caulking, and a sealed up fire door if you have direct access.
If you build, rebuild, remodel, add-on etc, and change the value of a structure, garage or not, you are always subject to reevaluation by any property tax authority. I don't see how, regardless of flooring, you could be tagged for "living space" in the vehicle portion of a garage. IMO if they thought you were housing people in that area they should red-tag the building the fine the heck out of you.
If you build, rebuild, remodel, add-on etc, and change the value of a structure, garage or not, you are always subject to reevaluation by any property tax authority. I don't see how, regardless of flooring, you could be tagged for "living space" in the vehicle portion of a garage. IMO if they thought you were housing people in that area they should red-tag the building the fine the heck out of you.
#5
04-26-2019, 07:12 PM
You can build an apartment above a garage in many if not most locals as long as it meets zoning requirements including if it is accessory or non accessory structure and if there is sufficient power, water and sewer connections available.
In my locale, a garage lid with living space above and their corresponding support posts must be dry walled with 5/8" X board with 1.5" screws @ 12" centers and have a minimum fire coat on the joints, corners and screws. Insulation of lid/floor is also rqd. in this circumstance.
Absolutely correct and good info.
In my locale, a garage lid with living space above and their corresponding support posts must be dry walled with 5/8" X board with 1.5" screws @ 12" centers and have a minimum fire coat on the joints, corners and screws. Insulation of lid/floor is also rqd. in this circumstance.
OP is in Maryland. Hard to say what the laws are there. In CA, any living spaces must be separated from the vehicle area with 5/8s drywall, and fire-proof caulking, and a sealed up fire door if you have direct access.
If you build, rebuild, remodel, add-on etc, and change the value of a structure, garage or not, you are always subject to reevaluation by any property tax authority. I don't see how, regardless of flooring, you could be tagged for "living space" in the vehicle portion of a garage. IMO if they thought you were housing people in that area they should red-tag the building the fine the heck out of you.
If you build, rebuild, remodel, add-on etc, and change the value of a structure, garage or not, you are always subject to reevaluation by any property tax authority. I don't see how, regardless of flooring, you could be tagged for "living space" in the vehicle portion of a garage. IMO if they thought you were housing people in that area they should red-tag the building the fine the heck out of you.
#6
08-19-2019, 09:30 AM
#7
08-19-2019, 10:04 AM
All it takes is one neighbor who enjoys being an ***hole and one anonymous call to the building department to cause you a world of problems.
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#8
08-19-2019, 12:37 PM
#9
08-20-2019, 04:50 AM
I never understood such neighbors. Do they have a personal life? It's alien to me, it's better to be friends with neighbors
#10
08-22-2019, 05:51 AM
My intent as we further age is to convert my garage to living space which will ultimately add a little over 400 s/f to my already existing 2000 s/f home. My house is a two story and we will eventually convert so all of our needs are down stairs. I'm finding that it'll be cheaper in the long run to do this than to sell and buy a smaller one story home. My climate system is substantial enough to support a small addition to living space.
In my case, the added taxes would be a small price to pay versus starting a new mortgage.
In my case, the added taxes would be a small price to pay versus starting a new mortgage.
#11
08-22-2019, 12:42 PM
#12
08-22-2019, 01:07 PM
Just like a Basement is generally not Taxed as it is not included in your total Floor Space.
I speak in General as I don't know All State laws YMMV
#13
08-23-2019, 07:29 AM
Having a living space above a dedicated original-built stand-alone garage would certainly entail a high level of separating and sealing the spaces to assure exhaust gases from vehicles not seeping into the living space. Certainly nothing less than one or more O2 detectors with fail-safe power sources would be at the top of recommended safety devices.
#14
08-23-2019, 10:35 AM
I could see Tax issues possibly when the Home with a Non-Reported Basement Conversion was Sold thru a Realtor But I'm sure there are ways around that too.
It probably wouldn't bother the Seller but I bet the Buyer would get a Tax Kick in the Pants
#15
11-07-2019, 12:30 PM
I was in-process of updating my garage from 'one outlet, one bulb' to over 20 outlets and loads of light when the assesor came by (I'm in Wisconsin, and that's what they do. Refuse to be inspected and wtch what happens - it ain't pretty)
Sooo, since I noticed he didn't like my Rot/Lab mix's barking, I put him in the garage and let him bark his fool head off.
Then, after assesor was nearly done, I asked if he wanted to see the garage. "Um, er, uh, it's still a two car garage, right??" "Yup, it is." And off he went...
Cosmo
Sooo, since I noticed he didn't like my Rot/Lab mix's barking, I put him in the garage and let him bark his fool head off.
Then, after assesor was nearly done, I asked if he wanted to see the garage. "Um, er, uh, it's still a two car garage, right??" "Yup, it is." And off he went...
Cosmo
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