Mequon Zoning Attorney

Find the right Zoning Planning & Land Use attorney in Mequon, WI

Zoning Planning & Land Use Law in Wisconsin

Mequon, Wisconsin has a fairly considerable number of laws that dictate how specific 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 critical 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. Usually, localities are divided up into "zones," which are designated for specific categories of use, such as single-family residence, business, manufacturing, etc.

There are a lot of rationales and purposes for zoning laws. In general, they're based in common sense: chemical plants shouldn't be constructed next to daycare centers, pig farms should not be constructed in the middle of a residential neighborhood, and other simple principles similar to that. Zoning laws, by keeping conflicting land uses separate, make life easier for all parties, ensuring that property values will be preserved, and that necessary industries can be conducted where they will not bother anyone.

Zoning also serves the interests of industry, as well as residents. By ensuring that there are places where heavy industry can take place, well-planned zoning regulations will ensure that industrialists are free to practice their trade, and that residents will not be disturbed by those activities, which makes industry more useful by helping it prevent costly nuisance lawsuits.

Possible Outcomes of Boundary and Title Disputes in Mequon, Wisconsin

If a condition on your property breaks the local zoning laws of Mequon, Wisconsin, there are a few different solutions.

First of all, and most simply, the owner could just fix the violation. If the violation isn't very substantial, and fixing it wouldn't cost very much, this is likely the best and simplest option.

Of course, just fixing a zoning violation isn't always inexpensive or easy, and may interfere with your planned use of your property. For instance, you might have just undertaken a substantial remodeling of your home, and later found out that some small part of it technically doesn't conform to Mequon, Wisconsin'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 quite minor, and enforcing the ordinance would be unduly burdensome and not in the public interest.

You also have substantial 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.

What Can A Mequon, Wisconsin Attorney Do?

If you suddenly become involved in a zoning dispute with your local government, it's imperative to seek competent legal representation. The counsel of an efficient Mequon, Wisconsin 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 Mequon

Mequon, Wisconsin is a city located in Ozaukee County. Its population is about 23,000 people. It was recently ranked very highly among the top 20 small cities in the U.S. to live in.

The area now known as Mequon was inhabited by various Native American tribes thousands of years before the arrival of white settlers in the early to mid 1800s. Around that time, about 20 German families established a sort of sub-community called "Freistadt" which means "Free City" in German. They came to the United States to escape religious persecution in their native land. The families were Lutheran, and Germany at the time was predominantly Catholic. They established the first Lutheran Church in Wisconsin. Freidstadt is now a neighborhood within the city limits of Mequon, Wisconsin.

Nowadays, Mequon, Wisconsin is a quiet, affluent suburb of Milwaukee. The median household income in Mequon is over ,000, and less than 2% of the population lives below the poverty line.

There are plenty of lawyers in and around Mequon, Wisconsin to serve the residents and businesses of the area. Mequon's affluence and proximity to a large city means that a large percentage of Mequon, Wisconsin lawyers are used to handling complex and sophisticated cases, making it all the more likely that a Meqon, Wisconsin lawyer will be able to take whatever type of case you are likely to have.

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