Wheat Ridge Zoning Attorney

Find the right Zoning Planning & Land Use attorney in Wheat Ridge, CO

Zoning Planning & Land Use Law in Colorado

The laws governing how land can and cannot be used in Wheat Ridge, Colorado are fairly confusing, and can be confusing to laypersons. This should provide a basic overview.

Local governments will typically divide the city or town into sections, called "zones," each of which is designated for a particular use, such as residential homes, commercial businesses, agriculture, manufacturing, etc. This process is known as "zoning."

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 proficient by helping it avoid costly nuisance lawsuits.

Possible Outcomes of Boundary and Title Disputes in Wheat Ridge, Colorado

If something on your property is in violation of a Wheat Ridge, Colorado zoning law, the landowner has various options.

It should be discernible that the first option you should consider is to correct the violation. If doing this wouldn't cost you very much, or pose a huge inconvenience, you should obviously do this.

What if, however, you've invested a substantial 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 typically 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 Wheat Ridge, Colorado's zoning laws, a variance will typically be granted.

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 Wheat Ridge, Colorado Attorney Do?

If you want to make improvements to your property, apply for a variance, or contest a zoning regulation as being applied to you retroactively, you have a right to do so, including some constitutional protections. However, your chances of prevailing in a zoning conflict will be markedly improved if you hire an efficient Wheat Ridge, Colorado real estate attorney to help.

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Life in Wheat Ridge

Wheat Ridge has a population of 32,000 people and is located in Jefferson County, Colorado, just west of Denver. It is situated just 5 miles away from the Colorado state Capital.

The city of Wheat Ridge was originally founded as early as 1859, and incorporated in 1969. The settlement began as a farming village which assisted nearby mining communities. The Wheat Ridge Historical Society is dedicated to preserving the city's history, which includes several log cabins which are still standing to this day.

Currently, Wheat Ridge has a thoroughly developed Parks and Recreation Department with several branches for various activities. Examples of recreational activities for Wheat Ridge residents include programs at the Active Adult Center and the Performances in the Park concert series held from July through August. The concert series draws many local and nationwide performers, and is a great example of the city's lively atmosphere and commitment to development.

Wheat Ridge lawyers typically file their claims at the Wheat Ridge Municipal Court. Some legal claims can also be heard at the Jefferson County Court. Many lawyers in Wheat Ridge, Colorado are members of different professional organizations such as the Jefferson County Bar Association.

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