The Ames City Council spent two hours Tuesday night closing in on new rental occupancy rules. The move is necessary after a state law change that no longer allows the city to regulate occupancy based on family relationships. The council directed staff to craft new rules on a proposal from the South Campus Area Neghborhood that allows three adults to live in one-, two-, and three-bedroom homes while four- and five-bedroom homes allow one adult per bedroom. First Ward Council Member Gloria Betcher moved a plan that also ties off-street parking spaces to the number of bedrooms--one-, two-, and three-bedroom homes require two parking spaces. Homes with more than three require one space per bedroom. The council has until January 1st to put in place new rental housing rules.