Shelton Zoning Attorney

Find the right Zoning Planning & Land Use attorney in Shelton, CT

Zoning Planning & Land Use Law in Connecticut

The laws governing how land can and cannot be used in Shelton, Connecticut 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."

Local governments have many different reasons for enacting zoning laws, ranging from ensuring that residential areas are peaceful and quiet, to protecting property values. For example, 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 usually acknowledge the necessities of things like factories, sewage treatment plants, and stockyards, but recognize that such activities shouldn't be conducted in residential areas.

Possible Outcomes of Boundary and Title Disputes in Shelton, Connecticut

Suppose you find that some condition on your land is in violation of Shelton, Connecticut's zoning laws. In cases like this, you have quite a few options.

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 probably the best and easiest option.

Of course, simply fixing a zoning violation isn't always inexpensive or easy, and may interfere with your planned use of your property. For example, 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 Shelton, Connecticut'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.

Additionally, if the zoning laws covering your property have changed, and some aspect of it is now violating the new rules, these changes can usually not be enforced against you, because it would be unfair to apply a new law retroactively.

What Can A Shelton, Connecticut 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 Shelton, Connecticut real estate attorney to help.

Talk to a Real Estate Law Attorney now!

Life in Shelton

Beautiful Shelton, Connecticut is home to close to 39,000 residents and located in Fairfield County. Shelton was first settled in 1639 and has been growing ever since. Shelton encompasses 39 square miles and is one of the few cities in connecticut with its own sheriff department.

Tragedy struck the city in 1975 when it was the victim of the largest arson fire in American history. The city has recovered from the fire, but the city once known for being a major rubber manufacturer never had the industry revived to the same level. The city is currently undergoing a major downtown revitalization -- an effort that will unite the community.

In addition to two golf courses, Shelton also has many outdoor activities for its residents to enjoy. Shelton also has a great legal community with lawyers trained to serve their local clients in issues ranging from divorce to drafting a deed. Shelton lawyers are an important part of the growing community and trained at some of the top law schools in the country. Whether living, working, or just visiting Shelton, a good lawyer is never far away.

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