Land Use, Zoning and Planning Lawyers in Las Vegas, Nevada
In Las Vegas, Nevada, 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.
Zoning also serves the interests of industry, as well as residents. By ensuring that there are places where heavy industry can take place, well-planned zoning regulations will ensure that industrialists are free to practice their trade, and that residents will not be disturbed by those activities, which makes industry more efficient by helping it avoid costly nuisance lawsuits.
What if My Property Violates Las Vegas, Nevada's Zoning Laws?
If something on your property is in violation of a Las Vegas, Nevada zoning law, the landowner has several options.
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 Las Vegas, Nevada'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.
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How Can a Las Vegas, Nevada Attorney Help?
If you find yourself facing zoning or other land use issues, it's important to have good legal advice. A good Las Vegas, Nevada 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 Las Vegas
By the time you're finished reading this paragraph the city of Las Vegas will have torn down and rebuilt 5 hotels. Okay, maybe not. However, there aren't many cities that have a more exciting and ever changing landscape. "Sin City" boasts a signature restaurant for nearly ever celebrity chef and a show for any age range or interest.People call Las Vegas the "Entertainment Capital of the World," "The Marriage Capital of the World," and the "Capital of Second Chances" (whatever that means) so it should be obvious there's a lot going on in those 131 square miles comprising Las Vegas.
One lesser known fact about Las Vegas is that it is the most popular destination for Hawaiians and is often referred to as the "Ninth Island." A 2002 survey showed almost 85,000 former Hawaiian residents and an average of 3,000 residents from Hawaii visited Las Vegas each week.
Las Vegas is much more than a tourist attraction. Nearly 600,000 Nevada County residents comprise the Las Vegas population. A handful of those Las Vegans work at locally headquartered companies like Zappos. The headquarters for Zappos is in the old Las Vegas City Hall.
Since many of the original large casinos and hotels were funded by real mobsters, you can learn more about Las Vegas by visiting the Las Vegas Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement. Las Vegas has come a long way since the days of gangsters. Las Vegas lawyers know local courts well and can help you decide the best course of action for your case.
