What makes a kitchen a kitchen?

[The Warrior Monk]

The municipality (where the subject property is located) should have a better answer.

Ditto.

The only way this question can be answered is to find the reference in the zone/building code on this matter, or go to the planning department (or equivalent) and speak to someone in the know on this matter.

It could be as simple as a having a stove. And if that is the case, it's not just personal property. I actually know of an instance where a building inspector went to inspect a guest house when the stove wasn't in. The building instantly became classified as an accessory structure with the town, because the Certificate of Compliance had never been issues on the property (note: the CC is issued for properties built prior to zoning, but it must be requested by the homeowner).

 

[residentialguy]

Ditto.

The only way this question can be answered is to find the reference in the zone/building code on this matter, or go to the planning department (or equivalent) and speak to someone in the know on this matter.

It could be as simple as a having a stove. And if that is the case, it's not just personal property. I actually know of an instance where a building inspector went to inspect a guest house when the stove wasn't in. The building instantly became classified as an accessory structure with the town, because the Certificate of Compliance had never been issues on the property (note: the CC is issued for properties built prior to zoning, but it must be requested by the homeowner).

Sounds like an easy way to lower your taxes woohoo

 

[Meandering]

It could be as simple as a having a stove. And if that is the case, it's not just personal property. I actually know of an instance where a building inspector went to inspect a guest house when the stove wasn't in. The building instantly became classified as an accessory structure with the town, because the Certificate of Compliance had never been issues on the property (note: the CC is issued for properties built prior to zoning, but it must be requested by the homeowner).

Great for building inspectors and zoning officers, they don't have USPAP requirements but we have to follow Real estate definitions.

Try and be politically correct:

As is, the space could be used as an accessory to an entertainment area of the home for the close provision, preperation and storage of snackes and beverages, addition of a stove and microwave might add greater utility to the space in the preperation of food, snack items and hors d'oeuvres, outside of the main kitchen which is on a different level in the home.

In other words, it's a: kitchen, kitchenette, wet bar, snack bar which satisfies your reporting requirements and should ease the underwritters panties out of that crack.

 

[The Warrior Monk]

Sounds like an easy way to lower your taxes woohoo

and devalue the property.

The property was located in an environmentally sensitive setting, with no public sewer systems. The effect of the loss of the guest house use directly impacted the expansion of the main dwelling, and other possible negotiations regarding the the manner and direction of the expansion...all over a stove.

 

[AlwaysLearning]

Great for building inspectors and zoning officers, they don't have USPAP requirements but we have to follow Real estate definitions.

Try and be politically correct:

As is, the space could be used as an accessory to an entertainment area of the home for the close provision, preperation and storage of snackes and beverages, addition of a stove and microwave might add greater utility to the space in the preperation of food, snack items and hors d'oeuvres, outside of the main kitchen which is on a different level in the home.

In other words, it's a: kitchen, kitchenette, wet bar, snack bar which satisfies your reporting requirements and should ease the underwritters panties out of that crack.

my red

And what “real estate"definition (for a kitchen) do you use? Would you share the source?

Unfortunately, the municipality has the last word in this matter.

Most municipalities define what a kitchen is in a dwelling unit (i.e. single family home). Most municipalities also determine the number of kitchens in a dwelling unit (i.e. single family home)

So what happens, when the municipality determines that the subject property has 2 kitchens and only one is allowed?
(I know one thing, USPAP requirements and Real estate definitions will not be much of a help)

 

[Riick]

Most municipalities define what a kitchen is in a dwelling unit (i.e. single family home). Most municipalities also determine the number of kitchens in a dwelling unit (i.e. single family home

Maybe in your neck of the woods that's true, but it's not true everywhere.

Ask the elderly Italian lady down the street who has a "summer kitchen" in her basement.
Or the Orthodox Jewish folks on the next block over who have two of everything in their kitchen (2 sinks, 2 stove, 2 refrigerators, etc) so they can keep kosher properly. So is THAT one, or, two kitchens?

The answer to the OP's question is:
IT DEPENDS ON LOCAL CUSTOM AND LAW

.

 

[AlwaysLearning]

Maybe in your neck of the woods that's true, but it's not true everywhere.

Ask the elderly Italian lady down the street who has a "summer kitchen" in her basement.
Or the Orthodox Jewish folks on the next block over who have two of everything in their kitchen (2 sinks, 2 stove, 2 refrigerators, etc) so they can keep kosher properly. So is THAT one, or, two kitchens?

The answer to the OP's question is:
IT DEPENDS ON LOCAL CUSTOM AND LAW

.

(my red)

Hence, the word "most" (municipalities)? :icon_idea:

 

[AlwaysLearning]

Maybe in your neck of the woods that's true, but it's not true everywhere.

Ask the elderly Italian lady down the street who has a "summer kitchen" in her basement.
Or the Orthodox Jewish folks on the next block over who have two of everything in their kitchen (2 sinks, 2 stove, 2 refrigerators, etc) so they can keep kosher properly. So is THAT one, or, two kitchens?

The answer to the OP's question is:
IT DEPENDS ON LOCAL CUSTOM AND LAW

.

In "my neck of the woods" that would be one kitchen (my red)

 

[Doug Meyer]

“What makes a kitchen a kitchen?”.... If my wife never stepped foot in the room chances are it's a Kitchen

Talking pretty brave today!! Wife not home??

 

[Fritz in NY]

Redfish has it right, and it depends on local custom (Subjects market). My market has many SF with a basement kitchen. Could be for the teenagers, In-Laws, Cooking potatoes and cabbage in the summer (Mike K.) or pasta and sausage. UW will think it is an illegal use if from out of market. High end dwellings have 2 kitchens a lot of the time, extended family, entertaining, etc. In my old days 15 + years ago as a realtor we would have the "stove" removed prior to appraisal and put back after. Same as we had to have a closet to call a bedroom a bedroom and K-Mart made a lot of $ selling us metal closets to screw to the walls of old dwellings. Sorry to go back in time....