Canton Zoning Attorney

Find the right Zoning Planning & Land Use attorney in Canton, OH

Zoning Planning & Land Use Law in Ohio

In Canton, Ohio, 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 very accessible to laypersons. This article should serve as a good overview of these laws.

Municipal governments which practice zoning typically follow a similar scheme: the town or city is divided up into "zones," or areas in which particular types of use are permitted. For example, the downtown area might be zoned for commercial and office use, and perhaps for large, multi-unit apartment buildings. The surrounding areas will typically be zoned for residential and small-scale commercial use, and the outskirts zoned for manufacturing and other heavy industry.

The purpose of zoning is to preserve property values, and make towns and cities more livable. For example, without zoning laws, a company might be able to buy a vacant lot next to your house and build a noisy, smelly, dirty factory on it.

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 many legal disputes that would be inevitable if they were closer to a residential area.

Possible Outcomes of Boundary and Title Disputes in Canton, Ohio

Zoning laws are often quite extensive and meticulous, and it's very possible that your property in Canton, Ohio contains some minor zoning violation that you don't know about. If this happens to you, you have significant legal protections.

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

What if, however, you've invested a significant 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 essentially 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 Canton, Ohio's zoning laws, a variance will usually be granted.

You also have significant 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 Canton, Ohio Attorney Do?

If you suddenly become involved in a zoning dispute with your local government, it's essential to seek competent legal representation. The counsel of an experienced Canton, Ohio real estate attorney can make it much easier for you to act within the law to use your own property as you wish, or at least be as free as possible to make improvements to your land.

Talk to a Real Estate Law Attorney now!

Life in Canton

Canton is located in northeast Ohio. Specifically it is south of Akron, and is a part of Stark County. Per the 2010 census, it has a population of 73,007 people. Surrounding areas include Youngstown, Mahoning County, and Nimishillen Creek.

Popular sites in Canton include the Pro Football Hall of Fame, McKinley National Memorial, First Ladies National Historic Site, and the William McKinley Presidential Library and Museum.

Top employers include LTV Steel, Hoover Company, the Whirpool Corporation, and Balden Brick Company. There are also many small law firms and law offices located in Canton. Via these firms and offices, excellent attorneys are trained to handle all the legal needs of residents and businesses.

Overall, Canton is a wonderful place to visit and live!

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