Broken Arrow Zoning Attorney

Find the right Zoning Planning & Land Use attorney in Broken Arrow, OK

Zoning Planning & Land Use Law in Oklahoma

In Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, 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.

Municipal governments which practice zoning normally 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 normally be zoned for residential and small-scale commercial use, and the outskirts zoned for manufacturing and other heavy industry.

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.

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 performed 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 Broken Arrow, Oklahoma

Zoning laws are frequently quite extensive and meticulous, and it's quite possible that your property in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma contains some minor zoning violation that you don't know about. If this happens to you, you have substantial legal protections.

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.

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 Broken Arrow, Oklahoma's zoning laws, a variance will typically be granted.

You also have substantial 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 Broken Arrow, Oklahoma Attorney Do?

If you are in the early stages of a major construction or remodeling project on your property, especially if it is in a residential area (where zoning laws tend to be most restrictive), you are likely to confront one zoning law issue or another. Of course, having read this article, you should now be aware that you have rights when it comes to contesting a zoning law as applied to you. While such contests do not always come out on the side of the landowner, the guidance of a knowledgeable Broken Arrow, Oklahoma real estate attorney will greatly improve one's chances.

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Life in Broken Arrow

Broken Arrow is a part of Tulsa County and Wagoner County. Per the 2010 census, it has a population of 98,850 residents. The city was named after a Native American group called the Creek Indians, who came to Oklahoma along the Trail of Tears.

The city caters to a diverse population. A large industry is agriculture. Top employers include FlightSafety International, Blue Bell Creameries, and Windstream Communications. The legal industry has a presence in Brown Arrow as well, with many attorneys who have established successful practices there. Therefore, residents and businesses have no problem seeking legal aid.

Famous residents, both past and present, include Jim Baumer, Jim Brewer, Josh Bryant, P.C. Cast, Ernest Childers, Ester Drang, Phil Farrand, Mike Iles, Brad Penny, Kahlen Rondot, Warren Spahn, Will Thomas, and Kathryn Zaremba.

Overall, Broken Arrow is a charming place to live, visit, or establish a business.

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