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Raleigh Leaders May Limit Number Of Unrelated People Cohabitating

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RALEIGH, N.C. — Raleigh city leaders are setting their sights on apartments and homes with too many unrelated people. Some college students say the new ordinance is unfairly aimed at them.

There are plenty of homes for rent in west Raleigh. Homeowners say renters bring the quality of life down.

"The traffic, the noise, the (multiple) cars parked in yards and driveways, front yards being turned into parking lots to handle the multitudes of cars, late night parties," homeowner Elizabeth Byrd said.

A group of citizens asked the Raleigh City Council to pass a law limiting the number of unrelated people living together to two.

"I like it. I don't know what that means for the college students who are living like that now. What kind of position it's going to put them in," homeowner Ruth Clark said.

Some college students believe they would be on the losing end of the proposed law.

"I live in a house with three other people. I enjoy being in college and having several roommates, so it would definitely bother me if they made a law that would disallow us to live together," N.C. State student Scott Smith said.

Low-income workers who share space would also feel the impact of the law.

"Other families have to pool resources in order to survive. I may not like what I see, but I do understand it," homeowner Richard Bowers said.

Currently, the law says up to four unrelated people can live together. A City Council committee will meet Wednesday to discuss the issue with the next step being a public hearing. It may not come up to a full vote until early next year.

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