Land Use, Zoning and Planning Lawyers in Easton, Pennsylvania
Easton, Pennsylvania has laws which govern how individual parcels of land can be used, and how they cannot. These rules aren't always simple, and this article should serve as an introduction to some of the most common issues that homeowners might face, though it is not meant to turn a layperson into an expert.
"Zoning" refers to a set of laws and regulations which state what use can be made of land in different parts of a city or county. Generally, localities are divided up into "zones," which are designated for certain categories of use, such as single-family residence, business, manufacturing, etc.
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.
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 Easton, Pennsylvania's Zoning Laws?
If a condition on your property violates the local zoning laws of Easton, Pennsylvania, there are a few different solutions.
The most obvious solution is to correct the problem, so your property is no longer in violation of local zoning laws. If the violation is minor, and correcting it would not be very costly, this is likely 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 Easton, Pennsylvania'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.
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 Easton, Pennsylvania 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 Easton, Pennsylvania real estate attorney to help.
There are 71 Real Estate, Housing & Property Law cases posted in Easton
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Life in Easton
Easton, Pennsylvania is a city in Northampton County. Its population is currently about 27,000 people. It is the county seat of Northampton County.Easton is very close to the same distance from Philadelphia and New York city, with Philadelphia 60 miles to the south, and New York City about 70 miles to the east. The puts residents of Easton in a position where they have fairly easy access to two iconic American cities.
Easton, Pennsylvania was founded in the 1752, and was named after a town in England of the same name (many English settlements are, for obvious reasons, named after English cities). It proved to be an important military center during the Revolutionary War, and it was one of the first places where the Declaration of Independence was publicly read.
Modernly, Easton is home to the Crayola factory, a major toy manufacturer. Like many cities in the region, Easton, Pennsylvania used to have far more industry than it does now.
If you have a legal problem, there are plenty of Easton, Pennsylvania lawyers who can help you solve it, or at least mitigate it. If you need legal help, you should contact an Easont, Pennsylvania lawyer immediately.
