Land Use, Zoning and Planning Lawyers in Lawrence, Massachusetts
The laws that regulate how land can be used, and what structures can be built on individual pieces of land in Lawrence, Massachusetts can sometimes be a bit complicated. This article will not make its reader an expert, but should serve as a good introduction to the subject.
Local governments will usually divide the city or town into sections, called "zones," each of which is designated for a particular use, such as residential homes, commercial businesses, agriculture, manufacturing, etc. This process is known as "zoning."
Local governments have many different reasons for enacting zoning laws, ranging from ensuring that residential areas are peaceful and quiet, to protecting property values. For example, most people wouldn't buy a home in a neighborhood where they knew it was possible for a neighbor to turn their house into a factory.
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 conducted in a way that they don't conflict with the rights of adjacent landowners to use and enjoy their property in peace.
What if My Property Violates Lawrence, Massachusetts's Zoning Laws?
You have quite a few options if you find that a planned or current use of your property violates Lawrence, Massachusetts's zoning regulations.
It should be obvious that the first option you should consider is to correct the violation. If doing this wouldn't cost you very much, or pose a major inconvenience, you should obviously do this.
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 Lawrence, Massachusetts's zoning laws, a variance will usually be granted.
Furthermore, zoning ordinances cannot be applied against you retroactively. For example, 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 live 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.
Find a Lawrence Lawyer that Specializes in Your Area of Need:
How Can a Lawrence, Massachusetts Attorney Help?
If you want to make improvements to your property, apply for a variance, or contest a zoning regulation as being applied to you retroactively, you have a right to do so, including some constitutional protections. However, your chances of prevailing in a zoning dispute will be markedly improved if you hire an experienced Lawrence, Massachusetts real estate attorney to help.
There are 21 Real Estate, Housing & Property Law cases posted in Lawrence
Cases Posted to LegalMatch listed by ZIP Code:Zoning Planning & Land Use Attorneys in the Largest MA Cities
Life in Lawrence
Lawrence, Massachusetts is a city located in Essex County. According to a 2007 Census estimate, Lawrence has a population of about 70,000 people. Along with Salem, Lawrence is the county seat of Essex County.Lawrence, Massachusetts was first founded in 1640, as an English settlement. During the industrial revolution, which went on from the mid-1800s to the early 20th century, Lawrence grew rapidly.
Lawrence quickly became home to many large and productive textile mills. However, like many cities during the industrial revolution, Lawrence underwent significant growing pains. In 1912, a mill collapsed, and killed over 140 workers. This, along with many other factors, such as sub-standard working conditions and low pay, led to a strike by over 25,000 workers, now known as the Bread and Roses Strike, which has since become a rallying cry for many workers' rights organizations.
In the 1950s, Lawrence saw a decline in many of its traditional industries, which led to a period of economic hardship. However, its economy is currently seeing some improvement, with a sharp decrease in violent crime, and a spike in private investment, with many investors purchasing the many old mill and factory buildings.
If you live in or near Lawrence, Massachusetts, chances are very good that you'll be able to find a good lawyer. Lawrence, Massachusetts lawyers have to deal with a wide variety of cases, and as a result, tend to be well-rounded.
