Old Bridge Zoning Attorney

Find the right Zoning Planning & Land Use attorney in Old Bridge, NJ

Zoning Planning & Land Use Law in New Jersey

In Old Bridge, New Jersey, 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.

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.

While zoning laws appear to be geared just toward protecting residents, they also protect industry, by ensuring that they are free to conduct their business without getting caught up in the several legal disputes that would be inevitable if they were closer to a residential area.

Possible Outcomes of Boundary and Title Disputes in Old Bridge, New Jersey

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

First of all, and most simply, the owner could just fix the violation. If the violation isn't very substantial, and fixing it wouldn't cost very much, this is probably the best and easiest option.

However, it isn't always practical or affordable to correct a minor violation of a zoning law. For example, suppose you have just spent a large amount of money and effort remodeling a house to turn it into your dream home. You thought you were in total compliance with local zoning laws when you did this, but find out that there is some small, technical violation of Old Bridge, New Jersey's zoning laws. In these cases, you have recourse in the form of a variance. You are entitled to petition the local zoning board to grant you a variance, which is an official decision not to apply a particular provision of a zoning law to a single violation. These aren't always granted, but usually have to be granted if the violation doesn't interfere with anyone else's use of their property, and doesn't thwart the purposes of local zoning laws.

Additionally, if the zoning laws covering your property have changed, and some aspect of it is now violating the new rules, these changes can usually not be enforced against you, because it would be unfair to apply a new law retroactively.

What Can A Old Bridge, New Jersey Attorney Do?

If you want to make improvements to your property, apply for a variance, or contest a zoning regulation as being applied to you retroactively, you have a right to do so, including some constitutional protections. However, your chances of prevailing in a zoning conflict will be markedly improved if you hire an efficient Old Bridge, New Jersey real estate attorney to help.

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Life in Old Bridge

Old Bridge, New Jersey is a township in Middlesex County. As of a 2007 estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau, its population is about 66,000.

Old Bridge can trace its origins to when the English wrested control of the area from the Dutch in 1664. In the 1680s, the current boundaries of Middlesex County were laid out by the legislative body with jurisdiction at the time. The area went through several name changes over the centuries, and finally appears to have settled on the official name of Township of Old Bridge, in 1975.

Until the 1950s, Old Bridge was largely an agricultural community, and population and economic growth were slow. However, during the post-WWII economic boom, there was a burst of construction activity, and most of the farm land gave way to residential developments.

Modernly, Old Bridge, New Jersey is home to a population that is relatively well-off, economically speaking. Only about 4% of the population of Old Bridge lives below the poverty line, which is much lower than the national average.

If you live in Old Bridge, New Jersey, chances are good that you'll be able to find a lawyer if you need one. Old Bridge, New Jersey lawyers are very diverse and competent. An Old Bridge, New Jersey attorney can probably handle just about any legal issue you might have.

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