Land Use, Zoning and Planning Lawyers in Des Plaines, Illinois
The laws governing how land can and cannot be used in Des Plaines, Illinois are fairly complex, and can be confusing to laypersons. This should provide a basic overview.
Municipal governments which practice zoning typically 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 typically be zoned for residential and small-scale commercial use, and the outskirts zoned for manufacturing and other heavy industry.
There are many 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 preserve property values
While zoning laws appear to be geared just toward protecting residents, they also protect industry, by ensuring that they are free to conduct their business without getting caught up in the many legal disputes that would be inevitable if they were closer to a residential area.
What if My Property Violates Des Plaines, Illinois's Zoning Laws?
Zoning laws are often quite extensive and meticulous, and it's very possible that your property in Des Plaines, Illinois contains some minor zoning violation that you don't know about. If this happens to you, you have significant legal protections.
First, and perhaps most obviously, you can correct the violation. If the violation is relatively minor, and correcting it would not cost you much or be a significant burden, this might be the best way to go.
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 usually be granted if the violation doesn't harm anyone, and enforcing Des Plaines, Illinois's zoning laws to the letter would not, in this case, advance their purposes.
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.
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How Can a Des Plaines, Illinois Attorney Help?
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 Des Plaines, Illinois real estate attorney will greatly improve one's chances.
There are 70 Real Estate, Housing & Property Law cases posted in Des Plaines
Cases Posted to LegalMatch listed by ZIP Code:Zoning Planning & Land Use Attorneys in the Largest IL Cities
Life in Des Plaines
Des Plaines, Illinois is a community in Cook County, with a population of about 60,000 people. It is a suburb of the city of Chicago.Des Plaines, Illinois enjoys a fairly high median household income, and a low cost of living, with the median income being about $53,000 per year, and average home prices being around $200,000.
Des Plaines, for a city its size, has a robust network of educational institutions, including a community college, and several specialized high school-level institutions, such as one focusing on fostering excellence in science and the arts, and private religious schools of various denominations.
Des Plaines, Illinois is a religiously-diverse city, and has several churches of different Christian denominations, as well as a Jewish temple, and an Islamic community center.
Des Plaines, Illinois is a good place to live for people who value diversity, especially those who work in Chicago, or the surrounding area. Its close proximity to city of Chicago, and its low cost of living, make Des Plaines a good option for young professionals who are ready to settle down.
Furthermore, there are plenty of Des Plaines, Illinois lawyers who are ready to help residents of the city and nearby communities with their legal issues. Des Plaines, Illinois lawyers can handle just about any legal problem one can throw at them.
