Winter Haven Zoning Attorney

Find the right Zoning Planning & Land Use attorney in Winter Haven, FL

Zoning Planning & Land Use Law in Florida

The laws controlling how land can and cannot be used in Winter Haven, Florida are fairly intricate, and can be confusing to laypersons. This should provide a basic overview.

Localities usually divide their jurisdictions into segments, referred to as "zones," on which particular types of use are permitted. For instance, one area of a town might be zoned for residential use, a nearby one for commercial use, and areas on the outskirts zoned for industrial use. This practice is called "zoning."

There are numerous different reasons that cities might engage in zoning - but it is normally designed around making cities more livable, by preventing conflicting uses from clashing with one another. After all, few people would want to live in a house next to a vacant lot, if there is a chance that somebody could decide to build a pig farm next door. The security provided by zoning laws helps maintain property values

Zoning laws typically acknowledge the necessities of things like factories, sewage treatment plants, and stockyards, but recognize that such activities shouldn't be done in residential areas.

Possible Outcomes of Boundary and Title Disputes in Winter Haven, Florida

If something on your property is in violation of a Winter Haven, Florida zoning law, the landowner has many avenues.

It should be clear, however, that the ideal solution is to just fix any condition on your property which is in violation of a local zoning law. If the violation is not significant, and correcting it won't substantially interfere with your use of your property, this is likely the ideal course of action.

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 breaks 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 Winter Haven, Florida's zoning laws, a variance will normally be granted.

Furthermore, if you have been residing 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 prevailing 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 Winter Haven, Florida 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 disagreement will be markedly improved if you hire an accomplished Winter Haven, Florida real estate attorney to help.

Talk to a Real Estate Law Attorney now!

Life in Winter Haven

Located in Polk County, Winter Haven Florida is home to just under 30,000 residents. The charming city is home to the second largest Legoland in the world and is also the site of the first Publix Supermarket Store.Winter Haven served as the former spring baseball training site for the Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Red Sox and it is easy to see that city's enthusiasm for sports in the many parks and recreation centers that dot the city.

Winter Haven is home to one college: Polk State College, which is a popular choice for local students to attend. With a heavy emphasis on education, Winter Haven is home to some top professionals including bankers, doctors, accountants and lawyers. Winter Haven lawyers enjoy everything the city has to offer, both personally and professionally. Winter Haven lawyers were trained at some of the nation's top universities and are always happy to help their local client with whatever the legal issue may be.

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