Land Use, Zoning and Planning Lawyers in Burlington, North Carolina
In Burlington, 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.
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 efficient by helping it avoid costly nuisance lawsuits.
What if My Property Violates Burlington, North Carolina's Zoning Laws?
If something on your property is in violation of a Burlington, North Carolina zoning law, the landowner has several options.
The most obvious solution is to correct the problem, so your property is no longer in violation of local zoning laws. If the violation is minor, and correcting it would not be very costly, this is likely the best way to go.
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 Burlington, North Carolina's zoning laws, a variance will usually be granted.
Further, if you have been living 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 current 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.
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How Can a Burlington, North Carolina Attorney Help?
If you are in the early stages of a major construction or remodeling project on your property, especially 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 good Burlington, North Carolina real estate attorney will greatly improve one's chances.
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Life in Burlington
Burlington, North Carolina is a city in Alamance County. It has a population of more than 50,000 people.Burlington, North Carolina is known for being the site of the War of The Regulation, which was a revolt against the colonial British government, and predates the American Revolutionary War. Although it was unsuccessful, it may have been a catalyst that helped kick off the wider revolution.
Modernly, Burlington, North Carolina is a thriving, business-friendly community. It hosts the headquarters of LabCorp, one of the largest clinical lab companies in the world, and one of the early pioneers of genetic testing. Burlington is served by a fairly extensive rail network, connecting it to New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, among several other major cities on the East Coast.
The city's daily newspaper is also one of the area's major media outlets.
According to census data, Burlington is an ethnically-diverse community, with significant Hispanic and Asian-American communities.
Given the wide variety of businesses, and relatively large number of residents, in Burlington, North Carolina, it's not surprising that Burlington, North Carolina lawyers typically find their services in demand. Because of the variety of cases they're likely to face, they must be prepared to handle many different types of legal issues, so chances are that there's a Burlington, North Carolina lawyer who can handle your case.
