Land Use, Zoning and Planning Lawyers in Woodbridge, New Jersey
In Woodbridge, 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.
Localities typically divide their jurisdictions into segments, referred to as "zones," on which particular types of use are permitted. For example, one area of a town might be zoned for residential use, a nearby one for commercial use, and areas on the outskirts zoned for industrial use. This practice is called "zoning."
The purpose of zoning is to preserve property values, and make towns and cities more livable. For example, without zoning laws, a company might be able to buy a vacant lot next to your house and build a noisy, smelly, dirty factory on it.
On the other hand, zoning laws recognize and attempt to accommodate the necessity of factories and other industrial activities. They simply seek to ensure that such activities are conducted in a way that they don't conflict with the rights of adjacent landowners to use and enjoy their property in peace.
What if My Property Violates Woodbridge, New Jersey's Zoning Laws?
You have quite a few options if you find that a planned or current use of your property violates Woodbridge, 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 Woodbridge, 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.
Further, 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.
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How Can a Woodbridge, New Jersey Attorney Help?
If you want to make improvements to your property, apply for a variance, or contest a zoning regulation as being applied to you retroactively, you have a right to do so, including some constitutional protections. However, your chances of prevailing in a zoning dispute will be markedly improved if you hire an experienced Woodbridge, New Jersey real estate attorney to help.
There are 20 Real Estate, Housing & Property Law cases posted in Woodbridge
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Life in Woodbridge
The township of Woodbridge New Jersey is located in Middlesex County. Woodbridge has a population of just under 100,000 residents, making it the fifth largest municipality in the state of New Jersey. Woodbridge also has the honor of being the oldest township in the entire state.It is easy to see the history Woodbridge has to offer and many visitors enjoy the points of interests and historical figures that came out of the city. Named after Reverend John Woodbridge, the city has been growing rapidly since its founding.
One sector of Woodbridge that is of particular interest is the legal community. Woodbridge lawyers are trained at some of the best law schools in the country and skilled in a range of practice areas to help his or her client with their issue. Woodbridge lawyers enjoy everything the township has to offer, and also enjoy using their legal knowledge to help their neighbor.
