A zoning change is under consideration in Winnetka to allow homeowners like Kimberlee Herold to rent their coach house.

There are approximately 60 coach houses in the North Shore suburb, part of a tradition that died away in the 1920s when the village code was changed to exclude them, according to records.

Since a coach house is considered a “non-conforming use,” Herold would need to register it annually with the village if she wanted to rent it — similar to owners of other multiple-family dwellings in the village.

Altering the law to make coach houses a conforming use, and removing an annual registration, was one of several recommendations from the village’s Plan Commission aimed at increasing affordable housing options in Winnetka.

Though the other recommendations were loudly and publicly dropped from consideration in December after a year-long battle between supporters and opponents of affordable housing, the coach house idea was welcomed when it was first discussed by the Village Council.

Trustees recently voted unanimously to schedule a public hearing on March 8, after which they will consider approving a code amendment.

“I wouldn’t have thought of this as an alternative in a way to open up some housing options without any restrictions, without any standards — I think it’s just terrific that we’re discussing this,” said Village President Jessica Tucker.

The new code would call for a one-time, free inspection of the coach house to certify it for occupancy, after which the owner would be allowed to rent it to whomever they wanted, said Village Attorney Katherine Janega. It would eliminate the annual registration requirement.

“Once (it) is determined that (it) is safe to be occupied, then it’s between the owner and whoever they want to live there, for whatever terms,” Janega said. “We don’t govern who people can rent to or whether they can rent to anybody and we don’t require an inspection for that — it’s their house, they can do what they wish, as long as it’s not illegal.”

Herold said other safeguards are unnecessary.

“You’re going to make darn sure you know who you rent it to, I mean you just are, because you’re living in very close proximity, so there are some built-in protections from the owners,” she said.

Harold’s coach house is vacant, but she is considering finding a renter.

“I was wondering if that was going to be a problem for me, but if this goes forward I think this is a wonderful thing for homeowners in my situation,” Herold told the Council.

Village staff identified 22 coach houses that are now occupied, based on an annual registry required by the law. About 38 more were found that are not registered for occupancy, but “we have had some suspicions” that people are living in them anyway, said Brian Norkus, the village’s assistant community development director.

Trustee Richard Kates said the coach houses sprinkled throughout town add to Winnetka’s charm.

“A lot of them are treasures, and to have them unused would be a real waste,” he said. “They should have a tour, because some of them are absolutely wonderful.”

Rented coach houses would not be subject to a recent property maintenance code enacted by the Village Council aimed at forcing landlords to maintain their properties. The property maintenance code only applies to commercial and residential property in the village’s business districts. Coach houses are only in the village’s residential zones.