Land Use, Zoning and Planning Lawyers in Akron, Ohio
In Akron, Ohio, 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.
Municipal governments which practice zoning typically follow a similar scheme: the town or city is divided up into "zones," or areas in which particular types of use are permitted. For example, the downtown area might be zoned for commercial and office use, and perhaps for large, multi-unit apartment buildings. The surrounding areas will typically be zoned for residential and small-scale commercial use, and the outskirts zoned for manufacturing and other heavy industry.
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.
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 Akron, Ohio's Zoning Laws?
If something on your property is in violation of a Akron, Ohio 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.
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 Akron, Ohio'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.
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 Akron, Ohio 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 Akron, Ohio real estate attorney will greatly improve one's chances.
There are 170 Real Estate, Housing & Property Law cases posted in Akron
Cases Posted to LegalMatch listed by ZIP Code:Zoning Planning & Land Use Attorneys in the Largest OH Cities
Life in Akron
Akron is the fifth largest city in Ohio. It is located in Summit County, near the Great Lakes area. In fact, Akron is about 40 miles from Lake Erie.Some popular sites include the Cuyahoga Falls, the All-American Bridge, the Goodyear Polymer Center, and the All-American Soapbox Derby.
Interestingly, in 2001, Akron was named fifth on the list of "high tech havens" by Newsweek. It has also been awarded as one of the "World's Most Livable Cities," by the National Civic League.
Top employers include Goodyear, The Kelly-Springfield Tire Company, GOJO, A. Schulman, FirstMerit Bank, and Bridgestone. Of course, to support these businesses, and local residents, Akron has a very competent legal force. Many attorneys practice law and devote themselves to providing excellent legal services.
