Land Use, Zoning and Planning Lawyers in Rochester Hills, Michigan
The laws that regulate how land can be used, and what structures can be built on individual pieces of land in Rochester Hills, Michigan 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.
Localities typically divide their jurisdictions into segments, referred to as "zones," on which particular types of use are permitted. For example, one area of a town might be zoned for residential use, a nearby one for commercial use, and areas on the outskirts zoned for industrial use. This practice is called "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.
Zoning laws don't exist just to protect residential use - it also protects people who engage in other types of use of land, by making sure that they are able to do their business, without bothering neighboring landowners, and thereby avoiding legal disputes.
What if My Property Violates Rochester Hills, Michigan's Zoning Laws?
If something on your property is in violation of a Rochester Hills, Michigan zoning law, the landowner has several options.
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 Rochester Hills, Michigan'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.
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How Can a Rochester Hills, Michigan Attorney Help?
If you are in the process of physically altering your property, you are almost certain to face some issues having to do with local zoning laws. If you find that zoning laws are making it very difficult to use your property as you see fit, you may have legal recourse, usually in the form of a variance. Of course, your chances of success in any zoning dispute will be immeasurably increased if you have the help of a qualified Rochester Hills, Michigan attorney.
There are 64 Real Estate, Housing & Property Law cases posted in Rochester Hills
Cases Posted to LegalMatch listed by ZIP Code:Zoning Planning & Land Use Attorneys in the Largest MI Cities
Life in Rochester Hills
Rochester Hills is one of Michigan's most affluent cities. It is located northeast of Oakland County, and is home to around 71,000 people.Some known areas include Rochester College, Oakland University, Meadow Brook Hall, the Dodge-Wilson estate, and the Auburn Hills neighborhood.
The top employers include the school district, Crittenton Hospital, FANUC Robotics, Wrights & Filippis, Webasto Roof Systems, Volkswagen, Dura Automotive Systems, and the Henry Ford Health System.
Rochester Hills is also filled with many wonderful parks. Such parks include Paint Creek Trail, Borden Park, Bloomer Park, Avondale Park, Allen Park, and Riverbend Park. For nature lovers, these beautiful parks serve as a great reason to visit.
The area is also filled with some attorneys who practice law with great devotion and a sense of service. These attorneys are not only competent, but also well-connected. Thus, the legal needs of residents and/or businesses will always be taken care of.
