Land Use, Zoning and Planning Lawyers in Reston, Virginia
Reston, Virginia has a fairly large number of laws that dictate how particular plots of real estate can and cannot be used, and what can and can't be built on them, and these laws aren't always easy to follow. This article won't make you an authority on the subject, but should introduce you to some of the most important concepts in zoning law.
"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.
Zoning serves several different purposes - but it its main one is to increase or preserve property values by ensuring that conflicting uses don't result in legal disputes. Obviously, if you bought a house in a residential neighborhood, and your neighbor could simply convert his property into a steel mill, your property's value as a residential lot would decrease significantly.
Zoning laws don't exist just to protect residential use - it also protects people who engage in other types of use of land, by making sure that they are able to do their business, without bothering neighboring landowners, and thereby avoiding legal disputes.
What if My Property Violates Reston, Virginia's Zoning Laws?
Zoning laws are often quite extensive and meticulous, and it's very possible that your property in Reston, Virginia contains some minor zoning violation that you don't know about. If this happens to you, you have significant legal protections.
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.
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 Reston, Virginia's zoning laws to the letter would not, in this case, advance their purposes.
You also have significant protections if a zoning law changes, and you find that the land you've been living on for years is suddenly in violation of the new law. In general, zoning laws cannot apply to structures and uses which were built or commenced before the law was changed. Under the U.S. Constitution, it's not permissible for state or local governments to pass laws which have retroactive effect. You should know, however, that any future changes you make to your property will have to comply with the new zoning law.
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How Can a Reston, Virginia 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 Reston, Virginia attorney.
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Life in Reston
Reston is known internationally for its meticulous planning that aimed at changing post World War II concepts of how to utilize land and create a residential/corporate development in suburban America. That probably why 64,560 Fairfax County residents chose the standout community. It could also be because the schools are so great in the area. There are a number of public and private options and even several opportunities for higher education. Reston has a high proportion of college educated adults, 67%. You can understand then why the average household income is $130,221. Reston has a great selection of lawyers who are familiar with local courts. Since Reston is so close to Washington D.C., many Reston lawyers have been licensed in multiple states. Celebrity and political figures live in Reston for the same reasons. Some notable residents of the city include mystery fiction writer Donna Andrews, songwriter and producer to Katy Perry and Britney Spears Benny Blanco, and Delegate Kenneth R. Plum.Reston has seen much interest and money invested into the city by various technology and Fortune 500 corporations like NII and Sallie Mae. The United States Geological Survey, CNRI, and the National Wildlife Federation are all based out of Reston. Rolls Royce, Google, and other companies recently began putting large installations into the Reston Town Center area. The four-mile direct access from the Washington Dulles International Airport along the Capital Beltway is free. The international companies recognize the savings and also give back to the community. Reston properties are highly sought after because it's such a thriving city with lots of opportunities.
