Alpharetta Zoning Attorney

Find the right Zoning Planning & Land Use attorney in Alpharetta, GA

Zoning Planning & Land Use Law in Georgia

The laws governing how land can and cannot be used in Alpharetta, Georgia are fairly complex, and can be confusing to laypersons. This should provide a basic overview.

Localities typically divide their jurisdictions into segments, referred to as "zones," on which particular types of use are permitted. For example, one area of a town might be zoned for residential use, a nearby one for commercial use, and areas on the outskirts zoned for industrial use. This practice is called "zoning."

There are several different reasons that cities might engage in zoning - but it is usually designed around making cities more livable, by preventing conflicting uses from clashing with one another. After all, few people would want to live in a house next to a vacant lot, if there is a chance that somebody could decide to build a pig farm next door. The security provided by zoning laws helps retain property values

Zoning laws generally acknowledge the necessities of things like factories, sewage treatment plants, and stockyards, but recognize that such activities shouldn't be conducted in residential areas.

Possible Outcomes of Boundary and Title Disputes in Alpharetta, Georgia

Suppose you find that some condition on your land is in violation of Alpharetta, Georgia's zoning laws. In cases like this, you have quite a few options.

First of all, and most simply, the owner could just fix the violation. If the violation isn't very significant, and fixing it wouldn't cost very much, this is probably the best and easiest option.

What if, however, you've invested a significant amount of time and money into making an improvement on your property, only to find that it violates your local zoning laws in some minor way? In this case, you can apply for a variance. This is essentially an exception to the zoning rules. If declining to enforce these rules would not harm anyone, and would not do much to advance the purpose of Alpharetta, Georgia's zoning laws, a variance will usually be granted.

You are also protected if your land is currently in full compliance with local zoning regulations, but the area where your land sits is re-zoned, and your property is suddenly not in compliance with the new zoning regulations. Generally, these new regulations cannot be used to force you to change existing conditions on your property. No laws can be applied retroactively, under the U.S. Constitution. Of course, if you make any improvements on your land after the law changes, you'll have to comply with the new law.

What Can A Alpharetta, Georgia Attorney Do?

If you are in the early stages of a major construction or remodeling project on your property, especially if it is in a residential area (where zoning laws tend to be most restrictive), you are likely to encounter one zoning law issue or another. Of course, having read this article, you should now be aware that you have rights when it comes to contesting a zoning law as applied to you. While such contests do not always come out on the side of the landowner, the assistance of a good Alpharetta, Georgia real estate attorney will greatly improve one's chances.

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Life in Alpharetta

Alpharetta, Georgia is a medium-sized city in Fulton County. It has a population of approximately 65,000 residents, and is known for being one of the most affluent cities in Georgia. It is also home to a huge number of businesses, for a city its size. During the workweek, employees of these businesses commute to the city, and its population balloons to over 120,000 people.

The huge number of employers Alpharetta, Georgia means that Alpharetta, Georgia lawyers are kept busy. Because of this large number of employers, the economy of Alpharetta, Georgia is quite vibrant, and while not untouched by the recent recession, endured it better than many other places in the U.S.

For this reason, Forbes Magazine, in 2009, named Alpharetta, Georgia as the #1 "reloville" in the U.S. By this, they mean it is one of the best places for professionals to relocate to in order to improve their economic situation. Perhaps testifying to this fact, about 70% of this city's residents were born someplace else.

Of course, where there are many businesses, there are going to be a lot of lawyers.

Alpharetta, Georgia lawyers are experienced in a wide variety of legal areas. In a thriving community such as Alpharetta, they have to be if they wish to state competitive.

Accordingly, if you need to hire an Alpharetta, Georgia lawyer, you probably won't have much trouble finding one who can handle your legal issue, at an agreeable price.

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