Manchester Zoning Attorney

Find the right Zoning Planning & Land Use attorney in Manchester, NH

Zoning Planning & Land Use Law in New Hampshire

In Manchester, New Hampshire, 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 quite accessible to laypersons. This article should serve as a good overview of these laws.

"Zoning" is the process by which a local government makes laws determining how individual pieces of land within its jurisdiction can be used. Typically, towns or cities are segmented off into "zones," each one being designated for a specific type of use. Examples of common zoning categories are single family residence, commercial, multi-unit housing, or industrial.

There are a lot of rationales and purposes for zoning laws. In general, they're based in common sense: chemical plants shouldn't be constructed next to daycare centers, pig farms should not be constructed in the middle of a residential neighborhood, and other simple principles similar to that. Zoning laws, by keeping conflicting land uses separate, make life easier for all parties, ensuring that property values will be preserved, and that necessary industries can be conducted where they will not bother anyone.

Zoning also serves the interests of industry, as well as residents. By ensuring that there are places where heavy industry can take place, well-planned zoning regulations will ensure that industrialists are free to practice their trade, and that residents will not be disturbed by those activities, which makes industry more proficient by helping it avoid costly nuisance lawsuits.

Possible Outcomes of Boundary and Title Disputes in Manchester, New Hampshire

If a condition on your property violates the local zoning laws of Manchester, New Hampshire, there are a few different solutions.

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

Sometimes, however, a landowner wants to make improvements on their property which might constitute a slight violation of Manchester, New Hampshire'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. Usually, variances are granted when the violation is quite minor, and, enforcing the letter of the zoning law would not do much to advance its broader purpose.

Moreover, zoning ordinances cannot be applied against you retroactively. For example, suppose you built a 3-story house on your property, and your property was zoned to allow 3-story houses to be built at the time of construction. And then, years later, the area you live in is re-zoned, to only allow 2-story houses. Can the local government force you to remove a whole level of your house? Of course not. Applying a law retroactively is unconstitutional. On the other hand, any future changes you want to make to your property will have to comply with the applicable zoning ordinance as it is currently written.

What Can A Manchester, New Hampshire Attorney Do?

If you find yourself facing zoning or other land use issues, it's crucial to have good legal advice. A knowledgeable Manchester, New Hampshire 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 Manchester

Manchester, New Hampshire is the largest city in New Hampshire, and the largest city in Northern New England (an area comprising Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont). Its population is about 110,000 people.

In 2009, Manchester, New Hampshire was named by CNNMoney.com as one of the top 100 cities to live in, coming it at number 13. It was also voted by Kiplinger as the second most tax-friendly city in the country. It is also one of the most affordable cities in the country.

Because of these many attributes, many successful, middle-class professionals, such as lawyers, have moved to Manchester, New Hampshire to take advantage of the low cost of living, getting the most "bang for their buck."

If you need legal advice in Manchester, New Hampshire, you should consult with some Manchester, New Hampshire attorneys. Your Attorney in Manchester, New Hampshire will be able to advise you on how to best deal with your legal problem.

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