Union City Zoning Attorney

Find the right Zoning Planning & Land Use attorney in Union City, NJ

Zoning Planning & Land Use Law in New Jersey

In Union City, New Jersey, 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.

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.

While zoning laws appear to be geared just toward protecting residents, they also protect industry, by ensuring that they are free to conduct their business without getting caught up in the many legal disputes that would be inevitable if they were closer to a residential area.

Possible Outcomes of Boundary and Title Disputes in Union City, New Jersey

You have quite a few options if you find that a planned or current use of your property violates Union City, New Jersey's zoning regulations.

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 Union City, New Jersey'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 are also protected if your land is currently in full 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. Generally, these new regulations cannot be used 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 Union City, New Jersey Attorney Do?

If you find yourself facing zoning or other land use issues, it's important to have good legal advice. A good Union City, New Jersey 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.

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Life in Union City

Union City is situated in Hudson County in the state of New Jersey. Its population is just over 67,000, but it is the most densely populated city in the entire U.S. Union City is nicknamed both the "Embroidery Capital of the United States" and "Havana on the Hudson". These nicknames come from the waves of German and Cuban immigrants that greatly influenced the city's culture.

Union City is famous for being an outstanding place for retail and business. The centerpiece of the city is Bergenline Avenue, which is the longest commercial avenue in New Jersey. Bergenline Avenue features over 300 retail stores and eateries, and has been locally nicknamed as the "Miracle Mile". The area is the main commercial landing for the Northern Hudson County area.

In addition to Bergenline Avenue's influence, many businesses are flocking to Union City to take advantage of its favorable business sales tax incentives. Union City is located within in the Urban Enterprise Zone, which is a New Jersey Program established in order to assist cities in their commercial development. Revenue generated from the tax breaks is collected into a fund to assist Union City commercial projects.

Lawyers in Union City, New Jersey typically process legal claims at the Hudson County Municipal Court. Serving the nation's most densely populated city, Union City lawyers are accustomed to addressing a variety of unique and challenging legal issues.

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