Land Use, Zoning and Planning Lawyers in Toms River, New Jersey
In Toms River, 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.
What if My Property Violates Toms River, New Jersey's Zoning Laws?
You have quite a few options if you find that a planned or current use of your property violates Toms River, 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.
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 Toms River, 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.
You also have significant protections if a zoning law changes, and you find that the land you've been living on for years is suddenly in violation of the new law. In general, zoning laws cannot apply to structures and uses which were built or commenced before the law was changed. Under the U.S. Constitution, it's not permissible for state or local governments to pass laws which have retroactive effect. You should know, however, that any future changes you make to your property will have to comply with the new zoning law.
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How Can a Toms River, 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 Toms River, New Jersey real estate attorney will greatly improve one's chances.
There are 102 Real Estate, Housing & Property Law cases posted in Toms River
Cases Posted to LegalMatch listed by ZIP Code:Zoning Planning & Land Use Attorneys in the Largest NJ Cities
Life in Toms River
Toms River underwent a name change in November of 2006. Prior to being called Toms River, the city was called the Township of Dover. As of 2010, the city has a population of 91,239 people.The city is known because in 2006 it was ranked fourteenth amongst the Safest City in the U.S. by Morgan Quitno. Three hundred and sixty-nine cities were surveyed. CQ Press, in 2007 and 2008 also ranked Toms River in their Safest Cities list.
Toms River has been pictured in popular television shows such as MTV's Made and Jersey Shore, as well as Boardwalk Empire on HBO. It has also been pictured in the popular film The Amityville Horror.
The area is home to many attorneys who have established well-respected practices. Therefore, the legal inquiries of residents and local businesses can easily be handled by Toms River's legal force.
