Edmonds Zoning Attorney

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Zoning Planning & Land Use Law in Washington

Edmonds, Washington 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 crucial 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.

There are several different reasons that cities might engage in zoning - but it is usually designed around making cities more livable, by preventing conflicting uses from clashing with one another. After all, few people would want to live in a house next to a vacant lot, if there is a chance that somebody could decide to build a pig farm next door. The security provided by zoning laws helps retain property values

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.

Possible Outcomes of Boundary and Title Disputes in Edmonds, Washington

Zoning laws are often quite extensive and meticulous, and it's very possible that your property in Edmonds, Washington contains some minor zoning violation that you don't know about. If this happens to you, you have significant legal protections.

The most obvious solution is to correct the problem, so your property is no longer in violation of local zoning laws. If the violation is minor, and correcting it would not be very costly, this is likely the best way to go.

However, it isn't always practical or affordable to correct a minor violation of a zoning law. For example, suppose you have just spent a large amount of money and effort remodeling a house to turn it into your dream home. You thought you were in total compliance with local zoning laws when you did this, but find out that there is some small, technical violation of Edmonds, Washington's zoning laws. In these cases, you have recourse in the form of a variance. You are entitled to petition the local zoning board to grant you a variance, which is an official decision not to apply a particular provision of a zoning law to a single violation. These aren't always granted, but generally have to be granted if the violation doesn't interfere with anyone else's use of their property, and doesn't thwart the purposes of local zoning laws.

Additionally, if you have been living on your property for a long time, and made improvements on it that complied with the zoning laws in effect at the time, a new zoning law that would be violated by your current use of your property, the new law cannot be enforced against you. The U.S. Constitution bars the passage of "ex post facto," or retroactive, laws. Once the laws take effect, however, you'll have to comply with the new zoning laws with respect to any new improvements you want to make on your property.

What Can A Edmonds, Washington Attorney Do?

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 Edmonds, Washington real estate attorney will greatly improve one's chances.

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Life in Edmonds

Edmonds, Washington is a city in Snohomish County. It has a population of slightly over 40,000 people.

It is the oldest incorporated city in Snohomish County, Washington, having been founded in 1899 by a logger named George Brackett. It's not clear who or what the city of Edmonds, Washington is named after, but it is likely either then-U.S. Senator from Vermont George Franklin Edmunds, or nearby Point Edmund (later re-named to Point Edwards).

By 1900, regular ferry boat service to Seattle was available. Edmonds, Washington is an important regional center for the arts. It fetaures a well-known, privately-funded drama club, called the Driftwood Players. They do 4-5 major productions per season, interspersed with several more one-night plays.

It also has hosted a major art festival since 1957, which focuses on the visual arts such as painting and illustration, and collaborates with local schools, featuring several galleries exclusively displaying the artwork of local students, to help promote arts education. Edmonds, Washington also hosts a jazz festival every Memorial Day weekend, with professional, famous jazz performers playing, as well as music students from nearby schools.

Given its diverse, eclectic population and culture, it's no surprise that Edmonds, Washington has a diverse and well-rounded legal community. If you're facing a legal issue, and live in the area, it's almost certain that an Edmonds, Washington lawyer can help.

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