Joliet Zoning Attorney

Find the right Zoning Planning & Land Use attorney in Joliet, IL

Zoning Planning & Land Use Law in Illinois

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

Municipal governments which practice zoning usually follow a similar scheme: the town or city is divided up into "zones," or areas in which particular types of use are permitted. For example, the downtown area might be zoned for commercial and office use, and perhaps for large, multi-unit apartment buildings. The surrounding areas will usually be zoned for residential and small-scale commercial use, and the outskirts zoned for manufacturing and other heavy industry.

There are a lot of rationales and purposes for zoning laws. In general, they're based in common sense: chemical plants shouldn't be created next to daycare centers, pig farms should not be created in the middle of a residential neighborhood, and other simple principles similar to that. Zoning laws, by keeping conflicting land uses separate, make life easier for all parties, ensuring that property values will be preserved, and that necessary industries can be conducted where they will not bother anyone.

On the other hand, zoning laws recognize and attempt to accommodate the necessity of factories and other industrial activities. They simply seek to ensure that such activities are done in a way that they don't conflict with the rights of adjacent landowners to use and enjoy their property in peace.

Possible Outcomes of Boundary and Title Disputes in Joliet, Illinois

If a condition on your property violates the local zoning laws of Joliet, Illinois, there are a few different solutions.

It should be clear, however, that the ideal solution is to simply fix any condition on your property which is in violation of a local zoning law. If the violation is not serious, and correcting it won't substantially interfere with your use of your property, this is probably the best course of action.

But what happens if you've invested a large amount of effort and money into improving your land, and you later discover that you've committed some relatively minor zoning violation? You are generally entitled to seek what is known as a "variance" in these cases. A variance is simply when your local government makes a small exception to the zoning rules to accommodate a small violation that would be difficult to fix. A variance will normally be granted if the violation doesn't harm anyone, and enforcing Joliet, Illinois's zoning laws to the letter would not, in this case, advance their purposes.

You also have considerable protections if a zoning law changes, and you find that the land you've been living on for years is suddenly in violation of the new law. In general, zoning laws cannot apply to structures and uses which were built or commenced before the law was changed. Under the U.S. Constitution, it's not permissible for state or local governments to pass laws which have retroactive effect. You should know, however, that any future changes you make to your property will have to comply with the new zoning law.

What Can A Joliet, Illinois Attorney Do?

If you find yourself facing zoning or other land use issues, it's important to have good legal advice. A brilliant Joliet, Illinois attorney will help you work within the law to ensure that you are as free as possible to make the use of your land that you want.

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Life in Joliet

Joliet, Illinois is the fastest growing city in the state. It is the seat of Will County and was incorporated as early as 1852. Joliet is nicknamed "The City of Champions" on account of the many national and state titles won by local school bands and sports teams. It is also nicknamed "The City of Steel" as well as the "City of Stone", reflecting its historical background in those industries.

Currently the city of Joliet, Illinois has attracted large numbers of new residents seeking to work and live in the area. Family entertainment in Joliet is abundant, consisting of several golf courses, bike trails, and old-style movie theaters. The city also has several landmarks that often appear in the setting of major motion picture films, such as the Rialto Square Theater.

Every year Joliet enjoys a large influx of visitors who come to the city to watch NASCAR automobile races and to participate in high-end motorsports events. These are hosted at places like the Chicagoland Speedway and the Autobahn Country Club.

Joliet, Illinois has quickly become an important hub for commerce and residential living. Lawyers in Joliet are available to assist in many different areas of law. Joliet, Illinois lawyers hone their professional skills through state and county bar associations.

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