Statesboro Zoning Attorney

Find the right Zoning Planning & Land Use attorney in Statesboro, GA

Zoning Planning & Land Use Law in Georgia

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

Localities typically divide their jurisdictions into segments, referred to as "zones," on which particular types of use are permitted. For example, 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."

Local governments have several 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 generally 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 Statesboro, Georgia

If something on your property is in violation of a Statesboro, Georgia zoning law, the landowner has several options.

The most apparent solution is to correct the problem, so your property is no longer in violation of local zoning laws. If the violation is minor, and correcting it would not be very costly, this is likely the best way to go.

Of course, simply fixing a zoning violation isn't always affordable or easy, and may interfere with your planned use of your property. For example, you might have just undertaken a significant remodeling of your home, and later found out that some small part of it technically doesn't conform to Statesboro, Georgia'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 very minor, and enforcing the ordinance would be unduly burdensome and not in the public interest.

You are also protected if your land is currently in full 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 used 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 Statesboro, Georgia Attorney Do?

If you find yourself facing zoning or other land use issues, it's crucial to have good legal advice. A good Statesboro, Georgia attorney will help you work within the law to ensure that you are as free as possible to make the use of your land that you want.

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Life in Statesboro

Statesboro, Georgia is home to almost 70,000 residents. In addition to being one of the larger cities in the state of Georgia, Statesboro is also home to Georgia Southern University, a presence which gives the city a charming college town feel. The University also happens to be the city's largest employer. Many students that come to Statesboro for college or graduate school decide to stay in the southern city, which explains the young population of Statesboro. Statesboro is located on 12.6 square miles and has an economy heavily dependent on agriculture. Statesboro is also home to WalMart's largest distribution center in the world. Statesborohas also been featured in movies such as Now and Then and 1969. The Statesboro newspaper industry has received local and national recognition for its innovation in online technologies. The thriving college community makes for many great lawyers to liveand practice in Statesboro. Statesboro lawyers range in their specialties and are skilled in any legal issue a client may be dealing with.The local lawyers in Statesboro are just one more aspect of Statesboro that makes it a wonderful city to live in.

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