Land Use, Zoning and Planning Lawyers in Reading, Pennsylvania
Reading, 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" 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.
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 Reading, Pennsylvania's Zoning Laws?
Zoning laws are often quite extensive and meticulous, and it's very possible that your property in Reading, Pennsylvania contains some minor zoning violation that you don't know about. If this happens to you, you have significant legal protections.
First of all, and most simply, the owner could just fix the violation. If the violation isn't very significant, and fixing it wouldn't cost very much, this is probably the best and easiest option.
Sometimes, however, a landowner wants to make improvements on their property which might constitute a slight violation of Reading, Pennsylvania's zoning laws. In this case, the owner can apply for a variance - an official agreement from the local government to not enforce a particular zoning regulation. Generally, variances are granted when the violation is very minor, and, enforcing the letter of the zoning law would not do much to advance its broader purpose.
Furthermore, zoning ordinances cannot be applied against you retroactively. For example, suppose you built a 3-story house on your property, and your property was zoned to allow 3-story houses to be built at the time of construction. And then, years later, the area you live in is re-zoned, to only allow 2-story houses. Can the local government force you to remove a whole level of your house? Of course not. Applying a law retroactively is unconstitutional. On the other hand, any future changes you want to make to your property will have to comply with the applicable zoning ordinance as it is currently written.
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How Can a Reading, Pennsylvania Attorney Help?
If you find yourself facing zoning or other land use issues, it's important to have good legal advice. A good Reading, Pennsylvania 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.
There are 153 Real Estate, Housing & Property Law cases posted in Reading
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Life in Reading
Reading is located in southeast Pennsylvania. Specifically it is in Berks County. Per the 2010 census, it has a population of 88,082 people. Similarly populated cities include Pittsburgh, Allentown, and Erie.A very popular spot for visitors is the Reading Public Museum. The reason why this is such a popular attraction is because it is an art, science and history museum in one! Therefore, visitors can escape into many worlds by visiting this one site. Another popular site is the Reading Pagoda, which is located on top of Mount Penn. The view from this area is supposedly breathtaking.
Top employers include Boscov's, Wal-Mart, Carpenter Technology Corporation, Berks County, East Penn Manufacturing Co., The Reading Hospital and Medical Center, St. Joseph Medical Center, and Reading School District. Reading is also home to many attorneys who practice law in various areas. These attorneys provide excellent legal guidance to employers, small businesses and local residents.
Overall, Reading is a charming place to visit and wonderful place to call home.
