Land Use, Zoning and Planning Lawyers in Camden, New Jersey
In Camden, 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 Camden, New Jersey's Zoning Laws?
If something on your property is in violation of a Camden, New Jersey zoning law, the landowner has several options.
It should be clear, however, that the ideal solution is to simply fix any condition on your property which is in violation of a local zoning law. If the violation is not serious, and correcting it won't significantly interfere with your use of your property, this is probably the best course of action.
However, it isn't always practical or affordable to correct a minor violation of a zoning law. For example, suppose you have just spent a large amount of money and effort remodeling a house to turn it into your dream home. You thought you were in total compliance with local zoning laws when you did this, but find out that there is some small, technical violation of Camden, New Jersey's zoning laws. In these cases, you have recourse in the form of a variance. You are entitled to petition the local zoning board to grant you a variance, which is an official decision not to apply a particular provision of a zoning law to a single violation. These aren't always granted, but generally have to be granted if the violation doesn't interfere with anyone else's use of their property, and doesn't thwart the purposes of local zoning laws.
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 Camden, New Jersey 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 Camden, New Jersey real estate attorney will greatly improve one's chances.
There are 114 Real Estate, Housing & Property Law cases posted in Camden
Cases Posted to LegalMatch listed by ZIP Code:Zoning Planning & Land Use Attorneys in the Largest NJ Cities
Life in Camden
Camden is located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Specifically, it is located in Camden County, New Jersey. It is the twelfth largest city in the state. Sadly, the city is well-known because three of its mayors were jailed for corruption.Popular sites for tourists include the Adventure Aquarium, Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial, Campbell's Field, Harleigh Cemetery which is popular because it is included in the National Register of Historic Places.
Top employers include L-3 Communications (Lockheed Martin), Rutgers University-Camden, Susquehanna Bank, Cooper University Hospital, and the City of Camden. The legal force is also present in Camden because many attorneys have established practices there. Thus, the legal needs of residents will always be tended to.
Famous residents include Donovin Darius, George Hegamin, Richard "Groove" Holmes, Robert S. MacAlister, Jim Perry, Mike Rozier, John F. Starr, Dajuan Wagner, and Walt Whitman.
