Land Use, Zoning and Planning Lawyers in Irving, Texas
Irving, Texas 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.
Local governments will usually divide the city or town into sections, called "zones," each of which is designated for a particular use, such as residential homes, commercial businesses, agriculture, manufacturing, etc. This process is known as "zoning."
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 Irving, Texas's Zoning Laws?
You have quite a few options if you find that a planned or current use of your property violates Irving, Texas's zoning regulations.
It should be obvious that the first option you should consider is to correct the violation. If doing this wouldn't cost you very much, or pose a major inconvenience, you should obviously do this.
But what happens if you've invested a large amount of effort and money into improving your land, and you later discover that you've committed some relatively minor zoning violation? You are generally entitled to seek what is known as a "variance" in these cases. A variance is simply when your local government makes a small exception to the zoning rules to accommodate a small violation that would be difficult to fix. A variance will usually be granted if the violation doesn't harm anyone, and enforcing Irving, Texas's zoning laws to the letter would not, in this case, advance their purposes.
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 Irving, Texas Attorney Help?
If you are in the process of physically altering your property, you are almost certain to face some issues having to do with local zoning laws. If you find that zoning laws are making it very difficult to use your property as you see fit, you may have legal recourse, usually in the form of a variance. Of course, your chances of success in any zoning dispute will be immeasurably increased if you have the help of a qualified Irving, Texas attorney.
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Life in Irving
Irving, Texas is most notable for encompassing the master-planned Las Colinas development and the Mustangs at Las Colinas sculpture, which is the largest equestrian sculpture in the world. The massive sculpture depicts a band of horses running through a splashing fountain at 1.5 times their actual size and extends 400 feet. Others may know Irving as the home to the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport that fits just inside city limits. The outstanding neighborhoods and easy airport access makes Irving an ideal location for business executives to headquarter their businesses.Irving is home to lots of household names like Chuck E. Cheese's, Hostess Brands, Omni Hotels, ExxonMobil, and Kimberly-Clark producer of Kleenex, Cottonelle, Huggies, and Kotex feminine products. Additionally, the National Headquarters for the Boy Scouts of America calls Irving home. You know it's a standout community when the Boy Scouts approve.
Notable residents of Irving include ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard, Olympic sprinter Jeremy Warner, pro football player Demarcus Faggins. Surprisingly, Lee Harvey Oswald, accused assassin of President John F. Kennedy, lived with his family there for a period of time. Many believe he lived within Dallas. Irving has much more history for visitors and residents to enjoy because it's been around for over a century. Irving was founded in 1903 and named for author Washington Irving who was a favorite of a co-founder's wife.
