Wayne Zoning Attorney

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

Zoning Planning & Land Use Law in New Jersey

In Wayne, 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 Wayne, New Jersey

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

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 considerably interfere with your use of your property, this is probably the best course of action.

What if, however, you've invested a substantial 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 typically 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 Wayne, New Jersey's zoning laws, a variance will typically be granted.

Additionally, if you have been living on your property for a long time, and made improvements on it that complied with the zoning laws in effect at the time, a new zoning law that would be violated by your current use of your property, the new law cannot be enforced against you. The U.S. Constitution bars the passage of "ex post facto," or retroactive, laws. Once the laws take effect, however, you'll have to comply with the new zoning laws with respect to any new improvements you want to make on your property.

What Can A Wayne, 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 Wayne, New Jersey real estate attorney to help.

Talk to a Real Estate Law Attorney now!

Life in Wayne

Wayne New Jersey is a beautiful Garden State city located just fifteen miles from midtown Manhattan -- making it a perfect city for the city worker to live in. With a population of over 55,000, it looks like many people may be doing just that! The city of Wayne has also been listed on the Top 100 places to live. Wayne is home to the Toys "R" Us corporate headquarters as well as the Valley National Bank headquarters. The city also houses the Ice Vault rink where many Olympians can be seen practicing on a regular basis. Wayne is home to a wide variety of activities for their residents to enjoy, including: recreational facilities, lake communities, a state university, and several parks.

Wayne is also a popular location for many lawyers to set up their practice. Specializing in a range of skills, Wayne lawyers are some of the top in the business and ready to help serve their client in whatever capacity he or she is needed! Wayne lawyers are just one more aspect that makes this city such a wonderful place to live in!

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