Land Use, Zoning and Planning Lawyers in Virginia Beach, Virginia
Virginia Beach, 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.
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 Virginia Beach, Virginia's Zoning Laws?
You have quite a few options if you find that a planned or current use of your property violates Virginia Beach, Virginia's zoning regulations.
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.
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 Virginia Beach, Virginia'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.
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 Virginia Beach, Virginia Attorney Help?
If you suddenly become involved in a zoning dispute with your local government, it's essential to seek competent legal representation. The counsel of an experienced Virginia Beach, Virginia real estate attorney can make it much easier for you to act within the law to use your own property as you wish, or at least be as free as possible to make improvements to your land.
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Life in Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach, Virginia is a popular tourist town located on the Atlantic Ocean in the southeastern corner of Virginia. The city is home to an estimated population of over 440,000 residents and is the most populated city in all of Virginia. It is also the 41st largest city in the United States.
Virginia Beach is best known as a resort city and has beaches that stretch for miles with hotels, restaurants, and clubs crowding the ocean front for residents and visitors to enjoy. In fact, Virginia Beach is in the Guiness Book of World Records for having the longest "pleasure beach" in the world. Real Estate and tourism are the two biggest components to Virginia Beach economy. In addition to expansive beaches, the city is also home to 210 parks within it's city limits.
Virginia Beach is also home to a major fighter jet base for the U.S. Navy -- Naval Air Station Oceana which also helps drive the Virginia beach economy. Of the 11 public high schools in Virginia Beach one provides students with some interesting legal training. First Colonial High School has a legal student academy giving high school students classes in legal research and writing, intro to the law, and other law-based classes to prepare the students for a legal job. With a focus on the law at such a young age, it is no wonder that there are so many great lawyers in Virginia Beach. Virginia Beach lawyers are trained at some of the best schools in the country and with legal training as young as 14, it is no wonder that Virginia Beach lawyers are so good at what they do!
