http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12835020/

Let's just socially regress a few hundred years. Jeez.

What the heck is an Occupancy Permit? Do folks in the States need a permit to live somewhere?

Many cities have ordinances limiting the number of non related people who may reside in a specific residence which doesn't meet certain criteria for being designated an apartment building.

Here in Toledo they did so for certain areas around the University Campus because people renting out houses to 4 or 5 college students would create a nuisance for 'normal' families.

Hmmm... I'm not 100% certain but I don't think there is anything like this in Canada.

In Canada, a builder of a new structure often needs an Occupancy Permit which verifies that the building meets codes and construction requirements.

The number of people allowed to live in a home is also a function of fire and safety codes.

I'm unaware of any Canadian restrictions based on marital status, although I stand to be corrected. I'll have to check, but discrimination like this may be unconstitutional.

I do know that property owners can legitimately discriminate for some things. An example is, no children are allowed to live in a housing complex specified for seniors.

I'll preface this by saying it's a stupid law...

But, the law isn't just marital status. It's 3 or more people related through marraige, Adoption or blood. So, if you want to get technical, you absolutely can have an unmaried couple with several children co-habitating.

As I said though, its a stupid law. It's not the governments place to tell me who I can share living space with.

If 3 veterans came back from serving in Iraq and wanted to share a house, would they really evict them too?

14th Amendment thing.

No lawyer will take the case, though, because there is no money in it.

14th Amendment thing.

No lawyer will take the case, though, because there is no money in it.
Maybe the ACLU will take it...

But, the law isn't just marital status. It's 3 or more people related through marraige, Adoption or blood. So, if you want to get technical, you absolutely can have an unmaried couple with several children co-habitating.It discriminates against non-married people by specifically excluding married people. It would be illegal here in California, for example. I guess Missouri doesn't have fair housing laws.

Well, I suppose technically, they only have 2 people not related by marriage, adoption or blood. The children are the children of the man and the children of the woman. So the only unrelated people are the two adults. Which means only 2 people not related, the other 3 are related to the other 2.

Maybe the ACLU will take it...
And, as if on cue:

ACLU to sue after community rejects unmarried pair (http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-05-17-blackjack_x.htm)
Posted 5/17/2006 11:29 PM ET
By Martha T. Moore, USA TODAY

A suburb of St. Louis faces a lawsuit from the American Civil Liberties Union after it voted to deny residency to an unmarried couple and their children.
The City Council of Black Jack, Mo., voted Tuesday not to broaden a regulation on how many unrelated people can live together.

Olivia Shelltrack and Fondray Loving were denied a permit of occupancy after buying a house in the city. Shelltrack and Loving, who are not married, have two children, and Shelltrack has a daughter from a previous relationship.

[More... (http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-05-17-blackjack_x.htm)]

And, as if on cue:

[B]ACLU to sue after community rejects unmarried pair (http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-05-17-blackjack_x.htm)[SIZE="1"]


Excellent.

How did I predict it was an interracial couple?

Hey, Fy'yr. The ACLU are lawyers =P

This is the problem with laws being so vague. This was yeah, originally intended to keep college kids out, but it's being twisted to regulate morality.

I'd much rather they just make a law that says "no more than 2 college kids can live together" and to hell with how it offends people than to leave legal loopholes in which pissant towns can shove their values down their citizens' throats.

This is the problem with laws being so vague. This was yeah, originally intended to keep college kids out, but it's being twisted to regulate morality.

Maybe we just need less laws.

I know it is a radical idea. But it was what our country was founded upon.

Who knows?