St. Clair Shores Zoning Attorney

Find the right Zoning Planning & Land Use attorney in St. Clair Shores, MI

Zoning Planning & Land Use Law in Michigan

The laws that regulate how land can be used, and what structures can be built on individual pieces of land in St. Clair Shores, Michigan can sometimes be a bit convoluted. This article will not make its reader an expert, but should serve as a good introduction to the subject.

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 don't exist just to protect residential use - it also protects individuals who engage in other types of use of land, by making sure that they are able to do their business, without bothering neighboring landowners, and thereby avoiding legal disputes.

Possible Outcomes of Boundary and Title Disputes in St. Clair Shores, Michigan

Suppose you find that some condition on your land is in violation of St. Clair Shores, Michigan's zoning laws. In cases like this, you have quite a few 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.

But what happens if you've invested a large amount of effort and money into improving your land, and you later discover that you've committed some relatively minor zoning violation? You are generally entitled to seek what is known as a "variance" in these cases. A variance is simply when your local government makes a small exception to the zoning rules to accommodate a small violation that would be difficult to fix. A variance will normally be granted if the violation doesn't harm anyone, and enforcing St. Clair Shores, Michigan's zoning laws to the letter would not, in this case, advance their purposes.

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 St. Clair Shores, Michigan Attorney Do?

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

Talk to a Real Estate Law Attorney now!

Life in St. Clair Shores

St. Clair Shores is a suburb along Lake Saint Clair. Specifically, it is in Macomb County and is about 13 miles northeast of downtown Detroit.

After World War II the area grew from a small resort community along Lake Saint Clair to a decent sized suburb. Per the 2010 census, its population is 59,715 people.

The city is well-known because every Memorial Day, it is host the the Memorial Day Parade. Also, Michigan residents know the area well because of the "Nautical Mile" site. This site is a strip of Jefferson Avenue between Nine Mile and 10 Mile roads, and is home to retail stores, boat dealers, good restaurants and cafes, and marinas. Basically, it is a popular site for residents and tourists to visit.

Many may not know, but St. Clair is where the Miss America Organization is located. Other popular attractions include Car City Records and Crows Nest East.

There are also attorneys in this area that are able to provide legal services to residents in need.

All in all, St. Clair Shores is a wonderful place to live and visit!

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