Chanhassen Zoning Attorney

Find the right Zoning Planning & Land Use attorney in Chanhassen, MN

Zoning Planning & Land Use Law in Minnesota

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

Municipal governments which practice zoning usually follow a similar scheme: the town or city is divided up into "zones," or areas in which particular types of use are permitted. For instance, the downtown area might be zoned for commercial and office use, and perhaps for large, multi-unit apartment buildings. The surrounding areas will usually be zoned for residential and small-scale commercial use, and the outskirts zoned for manufacturing and other heavy industry.

The purpose of zoning is to preserve property values, and make towns and cities more livable. For instance, without zoning laws, a company might be able to purchase a vacant lot next to your house and construct a noisy, smelly, dirty factory on it.

Zoning laws don't exist just to protect residential use - it also protects individuals 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 preventing legal disputes.

Possible Outcomes of Boundary and Title Disputes in Chanhassen, Minnesota

Suppose you find that some condition on your land is in violation of Chanhassen, Minnesota's zoning laws. In cases like this, you have quite a few avenues.

Initially, and perhaps most evidently, you can correct the violation. If the violation is comparatively minor, and correcting it would not cost you much or be a considerable 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 normally be granted if the violation doesn't harm anyone, and enforcing Chanhassen, Minnesota's zoning laws to the letter would not, in this case, advance their purposes.

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. Typically, 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 Chanhassen, Minnesota Attorney Do?

If you are in the early stages of a major construction or remodeling project on your property, particularly if it is in a residential area (where zoning laws tend to be most restrictive), you are likely to face 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 help of a seasoned Chanhassen, Minnesota real estate attorney will greatly improve one's chances.

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Life in Chanhassen

Chanhassen, Minnesota is a city of about 25,000 residents that straddles the Counties ofCarver and Hennepin.

Chanhassen is the site of a famous arboretum, which features several acres of beautiful horticultural exhibits, and a few miles of trails to view the area, which can be driven or walked.

The city of Chanhassen, Minnesota strongly emphasizes the value of outdoor recreation, and has a large number of parks, hiking trails, and natural open spaces. There are many lakes in the region, and several of them have publicbeaches which are very popular in the summer months, among residents and visitors alike.

There is a network of over 70 miles of hiking trails in Chanhassen, many of which cut through extremely scenic areas, with beautiful views. Furthermore, the town's lakes are very productive, making them great fishing areas. The city also has a skate park in its downtown area.

There are plenty of lawyers in Chanhassen, Minnesota to meet whatever legal needs you might have. Although they practice in a relatively small community, Chanhassen, Minnesota lawyers are competent to handle a wide range of legal problems. Whatever legal problem you or a loved one is facing, chances are that there's at least one Chanhassen, Minnesota lawyer who can help you out.

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