Land Use, Zoning and Planning Lawyers in Brick, New Jersey
In Brick, 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.
Zoning laws generally acknowledge the necessities of things like factories, sewage treatment plants, and stockyards, but recognize that such activities shouldn't be conducted in residential areas.
What if My Property Violates Brick, New Jersey's Zoning Laws?
If something on your property is in violation of a Brick, New Jersey zoning law, the landowner has several options.
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.
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 Brick, 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.
Also, if the zoning laws covering your property have changed, and some aspect of it is now violating the new rules, these changes can generally not be enforced against you, because it would be unfair to apply a new law retroactively.
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How Can a Brick, New Jersey Attorney Help?
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 Brick, New Jersey attorney.
There are 40 Real Estate, Housing & Property Law cases posted in Brick
Cases Posted to LegalMatch listed by ZIP Code:Zoning Planning & Land Use Attorneys in the Largest NJ Cities
Life in Brick
Brick, also known as "Brick Township," is located in Ocean County, New Jersey. Per the 2010 census, 75,072 people call Brick home. Brick is surrounded by the Barnegat Peninsula, Lakewood Township and Toms River Township. In 2006 Brick was named "America's Safest City" in a survey of over 371 cities nationwide. Another reason why Brick is known is due to the autism epidemic. A study was conducted in Brick in which forty out of six thousand children were found to be autistic.Brick is home to attorneys who practice in various areas of law. Their vast practice and sharp skills allow these attorneys to cater to the legal needs of residents and local businesses.
Some famous people who have called Brick home include Harry Bernstein, Jim Dowd, Kirsten Dunst, Garrett Graham, Jack Martin, Travis Spader, and Warren Wolf.
Brick, overall, offers its residents a small-town charm and a safe place to call home.
