Derry Zoning Attorney

Find the right Zoning Planning & Land Use attorney in Derry, NH

Zoning Planning & Land Use Law in New Hampshire

In Derry, New Hampshire, 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" is the process by which a local government makes laws determining how individual pieces of land within its jurisdiction can be used. Usually, towns or cities are segmented off into "zones," each one being designated for a specific type of use. Examples of common zoning categories are single family residence, commercial, multi-unit housing, or industrial.

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 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.

Possible Outcomes of Boundary and Title Disputes in Derry, New Hampshire

Zoning laws are often quite extensive and meticulous, and it's very possible that your property in Derry, New Hampshire contains some minor zoning violation that you don't know about. If this happens to you, you have significant legal protections.

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 Derry, New Hampshire's zoning laws, a variance will usually be granted.

Additionally, 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.

What Can A Derry, New Hampshire Attorney Do?

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 Derry, New Hampshire attorney.

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Life in Derry

Named after a city in Ireland, Derry, New Hampshire is located an hour Boston and an hour from the Great White Mountains of New Hampshire. With a location like that, it is no wonder people enjoy living and visiting Derry. Derry's Irish meaning is "oak woods." The town of Derry is located in Rockingham County and home to close to 35,000 residents.

Derry happens to be the fourth most populous community in the state of New Hampshire. Derry is home to wonderful museums and an opera house that make it an enjoyable place to live and visit. Derry also has a nationally recognized public and private school education system, a factor many parents in Derry enjoy.

With such a close proximity to Boston, home to Harvard Law School and Boston Law School (to name a few) it is no wonder that there are so many talented lawyers in Derry. Derry Lawyers specialize in a range of legal practices and are able to serve their local clients with a high level of competence. Lawyers in Derry can help their clients with any legal issue they may find themselves dealing with. Derry lawyers are just another positive aspect of this charming city.

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