Bloomington Zoning Attorney

Find the right Zoning Planning & Land Use attorney in Bloomington, IN

Zoning Planning & Land Use Law in Indiana

The laws that regulate how land can be used, and what structures can be built on individual pieces of land in Bloomington, Indiana can sometimes be a bit perplexing. This article will not make its reader an expert, but should serve as a good introduction to the subject.

"Zoning" refers to a set of laws and regulations which state what use can be made of land in different parts of a city or county. Generally, localities are divided up into "zones," which are designated for certain categories of use, such as single-family residence, business, manufacturing, etc.

There are various 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 uphold property values

Zoning also serves the interests of industry, as well as residents. By ensuring that there are places where heavy industry can take place, well-planned zoning regulations will ensure that industrialists are free to practice their trade, and that residents will not be disturbed by those activities, which makes industry more useful by helping it prevent costly nuisance lawsuits.

Possible Outcomes of Boundary and Title Disputes in Bloomington, Indiana

If a condition on your property breaks the local zoning laws of Bloomington, Indiana, there are a few different solutions.

The most apparent solution is to correct the problem, so your property is no longer in violation of local zoning laws. If the violation is minor, and correcting it would not be extremely costly, this is likely the ideal way to go.

Of course, just fixing a zoning violation isn't always affordable or easy, and may interfere with your planned use of your property. For instance, you might have just undertaken a significant remodeling of your home, and later found out that some small part of it technically doesn't conform to Bloomington, Indiana's zoning laws. If this happens to you, you can apply to your local zoning board for what's known as a "variance." This is simply a decree by the zoning board that the particular rule your property violates no longer applies. The Supreme Court has held that local zoning boards have to grant variances when the violation is very minor, and enforcing the ordinance would be unduly burdensome and not in the public interest.

You are also protected if your land is currently in complete 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 utilized 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 Bloomington, Indiana Attorney Do?

If you suddenly become involved in a zoning dispute with your local government, it's essential to seek competent legal representation. The counsel of an experienced Bloomington, Indiana real estate attorney can make it much easier for you to act within the law to use your own property as you wish, or at least be as free as possible to make improvements to your land.

Talk to a Real Estate Law Attorney now!

Life in Bloomington

Bloomington has been named a Tree City for more than 20 years and serves as the seat of Monroe County. Home to more than 70,000 Indiana residents, Bloomington plays host to a number of institutions of higher learning like Indiana University School of Law, Jacobs School of Music, and the Midwest Proton Radiotherapy Institute. Bloomington is also home to a number of experienced lawyers. Bloomington lawyers are licensed to practice through out the state and helped work on the movie Breaking Away which was filmed in Bloomington. It featured local quarries and a reenactment of Indiana University's Little 500 bicycle race.

Citizens and visitors of Bloomington are offered a thriving arts and cultural scene. Amateur theater companies like the University of Indiana Department of Theater and Drama, Bloomington Playwrights Project, and Theater of the People. Many performances are done at the famous Buskirk-Chumleuy Theater, a 616 seat vaudeville and movie house that was erected in 1922 and known locally as the "Indiana Theater." Many folks also frequent the happening music scene in Bloomington which hosts a large folk punk rock following. Bloomington is a popular concert tour stop for bands and fans come from around the nation to see their favorites play. 

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