OK... it TOTALLY depends on your city. We were told that the lovely city of San Francisco also had these laws stating any residence with more than 5 unmarried, unrelated women was a brothel.... HOWEVER one of our sisters took the initiative and wrote to the mayor's office.. and we found out that although these laws DID exist before... they no longer do, BUT having more than 5 unrelated people living together in a house means that you are subject to more strict rules (like a hotel) regarding safety and different codes the building has to be built to. The person who responded to our inquiry about the brothel law also suggested that we speak with university officals about greek housing and the lack of it to see if maybe it was any UNIVERSITY by laws preventing the establisment of houses. I say if you REALLY want to know... ask the questions to the people who can find the truth.
For us I really think that it's the cost of housing in San Francisco that is our problem. I mean you can easily spend 1 million here on a house that isn't NEAR big enough to be a sorority house.

Glitter, I wish there were more people out there like you and your ambitious sister! The sooner that this URBAN LEGEND (just in case there's anyone who hasn't caught on yet) gets squashed, the better!

I'm always amazed that sororities in really expensive places can afford houses. Of course, they probably have alumnae that make the amount my (personal) house is worth in salary every year :)

These rules apply in Newport, Rhode Island. No more than five unrelated persons may live together. This is why MTV's The Real World/Road Rules Challenge has been delayed in filming. They had planned on using a mansion on Bellevue Ave. Then they tried to lease a property in Middletown, right next to Newport. The rule in Newport was created to crack down on party houses. Meaning ten or so college students renting a house for the summer. Used to be the cool thing to do.

I was looking forward to seeing some of the cast in Newport this summer. :(

The brothel law is a myth. That rumor floated around UNLV. In Nevada prostitution is legal in counties with less than 100, 000 people, meaning we have many brothels throughout the state except in the counties where Reno and Las Vegas sit. UNLV doesn't have sorority houses but it also doesn't have fraternity houses either, the school ran out of space and is in the middle of the city. But reno does have sorority houses and they were built before there were 100,000 people living in reno (I believe). So the law couldn't have existed.

We were also given the brothel explanation, but it's not true in Fairfax County (but being as anal as this county is, I wouldn't be surprised if we did have a law like that). There is, however, the zoning law stating that no more than 4 unrelated people can live in one residence. That's why one of my friends has been "just visiting" his roommates for a few months now. I'm sure there might be 2 or 3 places where there is a brothel law, but make sure that it's true before you post it, please!

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Why doesn't Miami, FL allow sorority houses?
 

Why are you so constantly confrontational? We have discussed this 361 times. I have seen posts by you that are just flat out rude...

flame on.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Why doesn't Miami, FL allow sorority houses?
 

Thanks for saying what I'm pretty sure we ALL were thinking :)

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Why doesn't Miami, FL allow sorority houses?
 

Not confrontational hun, just pissed off. There's a difference. The post I sent out before I wasn't even mad. But take it as you will.

Re: Why doesn't Miami, FL allow sorority houses?
 

Since we all know the brothel thing is bs, try to get a sorority house. It could work this time.

Re: Re: Why doesn't Miami, FL allow sorority houses?
 

FYI, SigEp_Stud is a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon, a fraternity - don't think he'll be getting a sorority house anytime soon, although he might not mind living in one. ;)

Re: Re: Re: Why doesn't Miami, FL allow sorority houses?
 

Oops!!!! My bad. That's what happens when you write two posts at once!!! But the same thing applies for any sororities out there who believed in the brothel law like I did. Once my chapter has more members and I become an alum, I'm sure I'll come back to Pitt and help them get through the zoning crap. :p

We contacted the city about it because we had heard it was a law. It IS still a law, but the lady we talked to laughed when we asked about it. She told us that she highly doubted someone would bust us on it.

Although, some of my friends live in a house and their neighbors are trying to get them in trouble with the city using that old law, so we will have to see what happens.

We had zoning laws that prohibit 4 or more unrelated people from living together.