Charleston Zoning Attorney

Find the right Zoning Planning & Land Use attorney in Charleston, WV

Zoning Planning & Land Use Law in West Virginia

Charleston, West Virginia has a fairly massive number of laws that dictate how individual 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" is the process by which a local government makes laws determining how individual pieces of land within its jurisdiction can be used. Normally, towns or cities are segmented off into "zones," each one being designated for a specific type of use. Examples of common zoning categories are single family residence, commercial, multi-unit housing, or industrial.

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 construct a noisy, smelly, dirty factory on it.

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 several legal disputes that would be inevitable if they were closer to a residential area.

Possible Outcomes of Boundary and Title Disputes in Charleston, West Virginia

You have quite a few options if you find that a planned or current use of your property violates Charleston, West Virginia's zoning regulations.

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

What if, however, you've invested a considerable amount of time and money into making an improvement on your property, only to find that it violates your local zoning laws in some minor way? In this case, you can apply for a variance. This is basically an exception to the zoning rules. If declining to enforce these rules would not harm anyone, and would not do much to advance the purpose of Charleston, West Virginia's zoning laws, a variance will normally be granted.

You also have considerable 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 Charleston, West Virginia 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 face 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 help of a brilliant Charleston, West Virginia real estate attorney will greatly improve one's chances.

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Life in Charleston

Charleston is the capital of West Virginia. Per the 2010 census, it has a population of 51,400 people. Surrounding areas include the rest of Kanawha County, Elk River, and Kanawha River.

Top employers include Appalachian Power, Mountaineer Gas Company, Charleston Stamping and Manufacturing, MATRIC, NiSource Gas Transmission Storage, Walker Machinery, West Virginia-American Water Company, and Frontier Communication. To support such large corporations, the legal force in Charleston is well-equipped with many attorneys who are familiar with business law. Further, the legal force is also capable of handling the needs of local residents.

Famous past residents include Jean Carson, Conchata Ferrell, Allison Hayes, Ann Magnuson, Randy Moss, Leslie Nielsen, Jerry West, Jason Williams, and Booker T. Washington.

When next in Charleston, be sure to check out popular attractions such as the Avampato Discovery Museum, Sunrise Museum, the Capitol Theater, South Charleston Museum, Appalachian Power Park, Danner Meadow Park, Coonskin Park, Ruffner Park and Shawnee Park.

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