Elk Grove Zoning Attorney

Find the right Zoning Planning & Land Use attorney in Elk Grove, CA

Zoning Planning & Land Use Law in California

The laws controlling how land can and cannot be used in Elk Grove, California are fairly perplexing, and can be confusing to laypersons. This should provide a basic overview.

"Zoning" is the process by which a local government makes laws determining how individual pieces of land within its jurisdiction can be used. Usually, towns or cities are segmented off into "zones," each one being designated for a specific type of use. Examples of typical zoning categories are single family residence, commercial, multi-unit housing, or industrial.

Local governments have various different reasons for enacting zoning laws, ranging from ensuring that residential areas are peaceful and quiet, to safeguarding property values. For instance, most people wouldn't buy a home in a neighborhood where they knew it was possible for a neighbor to turn their house into a factory.

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 preventing legal disputes.

Possible Outcomes of Boundary and Title Disputes in Elk Grove, California

Suppose you find that some condition on your land is in violation of Elk Grove, California's zoning laws. In cases like this, you have quite a few avenues.

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

What if, however, you've invested a significant amount of time and money into making an improvement on your property, only to find that it breaks your local zoning laws in some minor way? In this case, you can apply for a variance. This is essentially 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 Elk Grove, California's zoning laws, a variance will usually be granted.

You are also protected if your land is currently in complete compliance with local zoning regulations, but the area where your land sits is re-zoned, and your property is suddenly not in compliance with the new zoning regulations. Generally, these new regulations cannot be utilized to force you to change existing conditions on your property. No laws can be applied retroactively, under the U.S. Constitution. Of course, if you make any improvements on your land after the law changes, you'll have to comply with the new law.

What Can A Elk Grove, California Attorney Do?

If you are in the early stages of a major construction or remodeling project on your property, particularly 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 reputable Elk Grove, California real estate attorney will greatly improve one's chances.

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Life in Elk Grove

Elk Grove, California is a city in Sacramento County, located just south of Sacramento, the state capital. It currently has a population of about 153,000 people.

Elk Grove was founded in 1850, as a stage coach stop, around which the town initially developed.

Modernly, Elk Grove is generally considered a bedroom community of Sacramento. This means that it is mostly residential, with its residents commuting to Sacramento for their jobs. Because it is the capital of the largest state in the country, many state employees, in a wide range of industries, work in Sacramento, but live in Elk Grove. The State of California employs a large number of Elk Grove, California attorneys, who perform a wide variety of functions.

Of course, many Elk Grove attorneys also work in private practice. So, the residents of Elk Grove, California who need a lawyer will almost certainly be able to find a capable attorney who has experience in the relevant area of law.

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