Thomasville Zoning Attorney

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

Zoning Planning & Land Use Law in Georgia

The laws governing how land can and cannot be used in Thomasville, Georgia are fairly difficult, 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 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 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 typically 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 Thomasville, Georgia

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

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

Sometimes, however, a landowner wants to make improvements on their property which might constitute a slight violation of Thomasville, Georgia's zoning laws. In this case, the owner can apply for a variance - an official agreement from the local government to not enforce a particular zoning regulation. Typically, variances are granted when the violation is extremely minor, and, enforcing the letter of the zoning law would not do much to advance its broader purpose.

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. Typically, 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 Thomasville, Georgia Attorney Do?

If you find yourself facing zoning or other land use issues, it's important to have good legal advice. A brilliant Thomasville, 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 Thomasville

Thomasville is located in Thomas County, Georgia, and is the county seat. With a population of 19,000, it is the second largest city in the Southwest Georgia region.

Thomasville is best known as "The City of Roses". The city maintains over 7,000 rose plants located in various spots throughout the city. Many residents also grow their own rose plants for display. A Rose Festival is held every year at the end of April, where rose cultivators from all over the world display their prize rose specimens. The festival includes street shows, dancing, vendor displays, and plentiful selections of food.

The city of Thomasville prides itself on preserving American history and culture. Popular historic sites include the Thomasville Cultural Center, Thomasville Landmarks, and the Thomas County Historical Society Museum of History. The historical sites attract numerous tourists every year.

Thomasville lawyers can usually assist you by filing your claim at the Municipal Court of Thomasville. The municipal court is the first avenue of relief for most types of legal claims. Many lawyers in Thomasville, Georgia are members of the Thomas County Bar Association in addition to the Georgia State Bar.

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