Land Use, Zoning and Planning Lawyers in Mcallen, Texas
Mcallen, 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.
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.
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 Mcallen, Texas's Zoning Laws?
You have quite a few options if you find that a planned or current use of your property violates Mcallen, 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 Mcallen, 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 Mcallen, Texas 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 Mcallen, Texas real estate attorney will greatly improve one's chances.
There are 39 Real Estate, Housing & Property Law cases posted in Mcallen
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Life in Mcallen
McAllen, Texas is the largest city in Hidalgo County, having a population of more than 100,000 people.McAllen, Texas was recently ranked by Forbes Magazine as having one of the best real estate markets in the U.S. It is currently designated a Foreign Trade Zone by the federal government, which is basically a free port, meaning that goods from other countries can enter the U.S. without having to pay customs duties.
Thanks to this free port, McAllen, Texas has a thriving retail sector, with many high-end retailers catering to American and Mexican shoppers, alike. This free trade zone also promotes a great deal of industrial activity on both sides of the border, benefiting both economies.
McAllen is a popular destination for dedicated bird watchers, as it lies on a migratory path that many different species of birds take from South America to North America. The rural areas surrounding the city provide excellent bird watching sites, along with a rich abundance of other wildlife.
If you are looking for a lawyer, and live in McAllen, Texas, chances are good that you'll be able to find one. There are many McAllen, Texas lawyers who can help you with almost any legal problem you might have.
