Greenville Zoning Attorney

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Zoning Planning & Land Use Law in North Carolina

In Greenville, North Carolina, there are laws which determine what can and can't be done on given parcels of land. These laws get pretty involved sometimes, and aren't always extremely accessible to laypersons. This article should serve as a good overview of these laws.

"Zoning" refers to a set of laws and regulations which state what use can be made of land in different parts of a city or county. Typically, localities are divided up into "zones," which are designated for particular categories of use, such as single-family residence, business, manufacturing, etc.

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.

On the other hand, zoning laws recognize and attempt to accommodate the necessity of factories and other industrial activities. They simply seek to ensure that such activities are done in a way that they don't conflict with the rights of adjacent landowners to use and enjoy their property in peace.

Possible Outcomes of Boundary and Title Disputes in Greenville, North Carolina

You have quite a few options if you find that a planned or current use of your property violates Greenville, North Carolina's zoning regulations.

It should be noticeable that the first option you should consider is to correct the violation. If doing this wouldn't cost you very much, or pose a massive inconvenience, you should obviously do this.

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 violates 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 Greenville, North Carolina's zoning laws, a variance will normally be granted.

You also have considerable protections if a zoning law changes, and you find that the land you've been living on for years is suddenly in violation of the new law. In general, zoning laws cannot apply to structures and uses which were built or commenced before the law was changed. Under the U.S. Constitution, it's not permissible for state or local governments to pass laws which have retroactive effect. You should know, however, that any future changes you make to your property will have to comply with the new zoning law.

What Can A Greenville, North Carolina Attorney Do?

If you are in the process of physically altering your property, you are almost certain to face some contentions having to do with local zoning laws. If you find that zoning laws are making it very hard to use your property as you see fit, you may have legal recourse, normally in the form of a variance. Of course, your chances of success in any zoning dispute will be immeasurably increased if you have the help of a qualified Greenville, North Carolina attorney.

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Life in Greenville

Greenville is located in Pitt County, North Carolina. The city is known as the "health, entertainment, and educational hub" of the Tidewater and Coastal Plain areas within North Carolina. America's Promise Alliance included Greenville as a part of the "100 Best Communities for Young People." Further, Forbes Magazine ranked the city in the top ten for the "Best Place for Business and Careers." Another name the city has is the "BMX Pro Town USA" because many BMX riders call Greenville home.

Famous residents (past and present) include Andre Brown, Derek Cox, Alge Crumpler, Josh Harrington, Mike Laird, Lee Norris, Petey Pablo, Bronswell Patrick, Tom Smith, and Billy Taylor.

The major industries are health care, education, and manufacturing. The top employer is Pitt County Memorial Hospital. Other top employers are Physicians East, NACCO Materials Handing Group, Convergys, Grady-White, Attends Healthcare Products, and DSM. Although not included in the list, the legal force is also strong in Greenville because many attorneys practice in various areas of law. These attorneys are Greenville residents and focus on providing excellent legal services. Therefore, Greenville residents and businesses have no need to worry; all their legal needs can and will be taken care of.

Overall, Greenville is a wonderful place to live, with a business-friendly environment well supported by a strong legal force.

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