Concord Zoning Attorney

Find the right Zoning Planning & Land Use attorney in Concord, NC

Zoning Planning & Land Use Law in North Carolina

In Concord, North Carolina, there are laws which determine what can and can't be done on certain parcels of land. These laws get pretty involved sometimes, and aren't always very accessible to laypersons. This article should serve as a good overview of these laws.

"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 a lot of rationales and purposes for zoning laws. In general, they're based in common sense: chemical plants shouldn't be built next to daycare centers, pig farms should not be built 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.

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 feasible by helping it prevent costly nuisance lawsuits.

Possible Outcomes of Boundary and Title Disputes in Concord, North Carolina

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

Initially, and perhaps most obviously, you can correct the violation. If the violation is comparatively minor, and correcting it would not cost you much or be a significant burden, this might be the best way to go.

However, it isn't always practical or affordable to correct a minor violation of a zoning law. For instance, suppose you have just spent a large amount of money and effort remodeling a house to turn it into your dream home. You thought you were in total compliance with local zoning laws when you did this, but find out that there is some small, technical violation of Concord, North Carolina's zoning laws. In these cases, you have recourse in the form of a variance. You are entitled to petition the local zoning board to grant you a variance, which is an official decision not to apply a certain provision of a zoning law to a single violation. These aren't always granted, but generally have to be granted if the violation doesn't interfere with anyone else's use of their property, and doesn't thwart the purposes of local zoning laws.

Furthermore, if you have been residing on your property for a long time, and made improvements on it that complied with the zoning laws in effect at the time, a new zoning law that would be violated by your prevailing use of your property, the new law cannot be enforced against you. The U.S. Constitution bars the passage of "ex post facto," or retroactive, laws. Once the laws take effect, however, you'll have to comply with the new zoning laws with respect to any new improvements you want to make on your property.

What Can A Concord, North Carolina 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 encounter 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 assistance of a reputable Concord, North Carolina real estate attorney will greatly improve one's chances.

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Life in Concord

Concord, North Carolina has a storied history dating back almost 200 years. Named concord, meaning "harmony" the city of Concord is a harmonious mix of business and pleasure for tourists and residents to enjoy. Interestingly enough, Concord was honored with an "Outstanding American City" award in 2004.

With an estimated population just under 80,000 residents, Concord has an amazing legal culture with many talented lawyers for their residents to make use of whenever a legal issue may come their way. Concord lawyers are talented and trained in a range of legal specialties with years of practice to better serve their legal clients. If you find yourself in need of a lawyer in Concord, you dont have to travel far to find one!

Aside from stellar lawyers, Concord is also home to NASCAR research and development office and also home to nationally prominent racing teams. Concord is the second largest city in the Charlotte Metropolitan area, ranking just behind the state's capital. Concord education system includes both public and private schools and many local Concord attorneys grew up in the city and attended these schools. Whether you are looking for relaxation, NASCAR, or an experienced attorney, Concord has it all!

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