Hobart Zoning Attorney

Find the right Zoning Planning & Land Use attorney in Hobart, 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 Hobart, Indiana can sometimes be a bit confusing. 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. Usually, localities are divided up into "zones," which are designated for specific categories of use, such as single-family residence, business, manufacturing, etc.

There are a lot of rationales and purposes for zoning laws. In general, they're based in common sense: chemical plants shouldn't be constructed next to daycare centers, pig farms should not be constructed 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 just seek to ensure that such activities are performed 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 Hobart, Indiana

You have quite a few options if you find that a planned or prevailing use of your property breaks Hobart, Indiana's zoning regulations.

It should be apparent that the first option you should consider is to correct the violation. If doing this wouldn't cost you very much, or pose a huge inconvenience, you should obviously do this.

What if, however, you've invested a substantial amount of time and money into making an improvement on your property, only to find that it breaks your local zoning laws in some minor way? In this case, you can apply for a variance. This is typically 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 Hobart, Indiana's zoning laws, a variance will typically be granted.

Moreover, zoning ordinances cannot be applied against you retroactively. For instance, suppose you built a 3-story house on your property, and your property was zoned to allow 3-story houses to be built at the time of construction. And then, years later, the area you reside in is re-zoned, to only allow 2-story houses. Can the local government force you to remove a whole level of your house? Of course not. Applying a law retroactively is unconstitutional. On the other hand, any future changes you want to make to your property will have to comply with the applicable zoning ordinance as it is currently written.

What Can A Hobart, Indiana Attorney Do?

If you are in the process of physically altering your property, you are almost sure to face some concerns having to do with local zoning laws. If you find that zoning laws are making it very challenging to use your property as you see fit, you may have legal recourse, typically in the form of a variance. Of course, your chances of success in any zoning dispute will be immeasurably increased if you have the assistance of a qualified Hobart, Indiana attorney.

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Life in Hobart

If you're not from Hobart than you may like to know it's been dubbed "Ho-bert" by the 26,000 Lake County locals. The city covers 26.7 square miles of Indiana. Hobart is situated in the extreme northwest of the State of Indiana and is just a stone's throw from Lake Michigan. The city's close proximity to the lake makes it popular among residents and vacationers alike but also among professionals working in Chicago, Illinois. Hobart is 31 miles from downtown Chicago and provides a sanctuary for professionals seeking a suburban setting. It's also popular because the cost of living in Hobart and Indiana is much less than that of Chicago. Over half of the people living in Hobart reported they were married and the residents' median income is ,000 each year. A number of Hobart citizens are also lawyers by day. Hobart lawyers are experienced with local courts and different cases, they're well acquainted with many different areas of law.  

The city of Hobart offers a wide range of recreational opportunities. The two most popular outdoor attractions are Lake George and the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Lake George is a warmer and more low-key alternative to nearby Lake Michigan. Aside from fishing and bird watching, the lake also features live music and swimming areas.   

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