Jacksonville Zoning Attorney

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

Zoning Planning & Land Use Law in North Carolina

In Jacksonville, North Carolina, there are laws which determine what can and can't be done on given 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.

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.

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

Suppose you find that some condition on your land is in violation of Jacksonville, North Carolina's zoning laws. In cases like this, you have quite a few options.

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

Of course, simply fixing a zoning violation isn't always affordable or easy, and may interfere with your planned use of your property. For example, you might have just undertaken a significant remodeling of your home, and later found out that some small part of it technically doesn't conform to Jacksonville, North Carolina's zoning laws. If this happens to you, you can apply to your local zoning board for what's known as a "variance." This is simply a decree by the zoning board that the particular rule your property violates no longer applies. The Supreme Court has held that local zoning boards have to grant variances when the violation is very minor, and enforcing the ordinance would be unduly burdensome and not in the public interest.

You also have significant protections if a zoning law changes, and you find that the land you've been living on for years is suddenly in violation of the new law. In general, zoning laws cannot apply to structures and uses which were built or commenced before the law was changed. Under the U.S. Constitution, it's not permissible for state or local governments to pass laws which have retroactive effect. You should know, however, that any future changes you make to your property will have to comply with the new zoning law.

What Can A Jacksonville, North Carolina Attorney Do?

If you find yourself facing zoning or other land use issues, it's important to have good legal advice. A good Jacksonville, North Carolina attorney will help you work within the law to ensure that you are as free as possible to make the use of your land that you want.

Talk to a Real Estate Law Attorney now!

Life in Jacksonville

Jacksonville is part of Onslow County, North Carolina. Per the 2010 census, it has a population of 70,145 people. An interesting fact is that Jacksonville is the youngest city in the United States because its age is only 22.8 years. Jacksonville also has a large military presence, and is home to the United States Marine Corps' Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and the Marine Corps Air Station New River.

Some famous people who have been residents are Ryan Adams, Art Bell, Levi Brown, Edward B. Dudley, David Green, Sara Hickman, Marcus Jones, Dian Parkinson, Danielle Peck, and Quincy Monk.

Many attorneys practice in Jacksonville. The attorneys are either solo practitioners or a part of a law firm. Either way, they focus on providing their clients with excellent legal services.

Clients Rate LegalMatch Attorneys
(click to read reviews)

Nicholas M.
Nicholas M.

Real Estate, Housing & Property Law

Golden, CO

Carl M.
Carl M.

Real Estate, Housing & Property Law

Seattle, WA

David A.
David A.

Real Estate, Housing & Property Law

Walnut Creek, CA