A meeting Monday night presented proposed changes in the rental housing codes to members of the Ames community.The rental housing code is part of the Municipal Code of Ames. The proposed changes follow the newly rewritten zoning regulations, said Eden Schmitt, planner for the City of Ames.”We have a completely revised zoning ordinance,” she said. “It’s an entirely new document.”The old zoning ordinance was 20 years old, Schmitt said. The changes included a new definition of family.”We had two different definitions of family between the zoning ordinance and the rental housing code,” she said. “We need to be consistent.”In accordance with the changes to the zoning ordinance, the new rental housing codes would increase the number of people allowed to live in rental homes, said Jeff Pearson, building official for the City of Ames.”We are allowing more people in three-plexes and above,” he said. “Instead of limiting it to three unrelated people, it would be one plus the number of bedrooms, up to a maximum of five residents.”Residents who had previously received special permission to house more than the new limit would be exempt from the new regulation, Pearson said.”Anyone with more than the new limits will be grandfathered in,” he said. “We’re not taking anything away from anybody.”Pearson said the meeting was intended to inform landlords of the changes. The proposal will have to be presented to the City Council before any changes are made. The changes could be approved sometime in April, Schmitt said.”The Council will have to approve it,” she said. “They have three readings scheduled.”