Tenants per House: How Many People Can Live in One Home?

When you rent a house, tenants per house, the number of people legally allowed to occupy a single residential unit. Also known as occupancy limits, it’s not just about space—it’s about local laws, safety codes, and what your landlord can actually control. Many assume more people mean more rent, but that’s not how it works. Cities and counties set strict rules based on bedroom count, square footage, and even plumbing capacity. In many places, the standard is two people per bedroom, but that’s not universal. Some cities allow three or even four per bedroom if the unit is large enough. Others cap total occupancy at five or six regardless of room count.

Landlords can’t just make up rules. If your lease says "no more than four tenants," but your city allows six based on square footage, the city law wins. But here’s the catch: landlords can still refuse applicants based on background checks, credit, or income—even if the number of tenants is legal. And if you’re sharing a three-bedroom house with six people, you’re probably violating fire codes or zoning rules, even if no one’s complained yet. housing density, how many people are packed into a given residential area. Also known as population density in rentals, it’s what triggers inspections, noise complaints, and sometimes even neighborhood pushback. In some areas, like parts of California or New York, multi-tenant homes are common and regulated. In others, like suburban neighborhoods, having more than two unrelated adults living together can be flagged as a violation of "single-family" zoning.

Then there’s the issue of landlord rules, the policies landlords impose beyond what the law requires. Also known as lease restrictions, they often include limits on overnight guests, pets, or even how long someone can stay without being added to the lease. Some landlords require every adult to sign the lease. Others only allow family members to live together. And if you’re renting a house with three bedrooms and five people, you might be okay under the law—but your landlord might still evict you for violating the lease, even if the city says it’s fine.

What you’ll find below are real cases from renters, landlords, and property managers who’ve dealt with these exact situations. Some fought eviction over occupancy rules. Others got fined for turning a two-bedroom into a five-person dorm. A few figured out how to legally add roommates without breaking the lease. This isn’t about theory—it’s about what actually happens when you pack too many people into one house, or when you’re told you can’t have as many as you want.