Edmond Zoning Attorney

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

Zoning Planning & Land Use Law in Oklahoma

In Edmond, Oklahoma, there are laws which determine what can and can't be done on certain 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 instance, 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.

Zoning laws don't exist just to protect residential use - it also protects persons who engage in other types of use of land, by making sure that they are able to do their business, without bothering neighboring landowners, and thereby preventing legal disputes.

Possible Outcomes of Boundary and Title Disputes in Edmond, Oklahoma

If something on your property is in violation of an Edmond, Oklahoma zoning law, the landowner has various avenues.

Initially, and perhaps most apparently, you can correct the violation. If the violation is comparatively minor, and correcting it would not cost you much or be a substantial burden, this might be the best way to go.

Of course, just fixing a zoning violation isn't always inexpensive or easy, and may interfere with your planned use of your property. For instance, you might have just undertaken a substantial remodeling of your home, and later found out that some small part of it technically doesn't conform to Edmond, Oklahoma's zoning laws. If this happens to you, you can apply to your local zoning board for what's known as a "variance." This is simply a decree by the zoning board that the particular rule your property violates no longer applies. The Supreme Court has held that local zoning boards have to grant variances when the violation is quite minor, and enforcing the ordinance would be unduly burdensome and not in the public interest.

You are also protected if your land is currently in complete compliance with local zoning regulations, but the area where your land sits is re-zoned, and your property is suddenly not in compliance with the new zoning regulations. Usually, these new regulations cannot be utilized to force you to change existing conditions on your property. No laws can be applied retroactively, under the U.S. Constitution. Of course, if you make any improvements on your land after the law changes, you'll have to comply with the new law.

What Can A Edmond, Oklahoma Attorney Do?

If you suddenly become involved in a zoning dispute with your local government, it's imperative to seek competent legal representation. The counsel of an efficient Edmond, Oklahoma 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 Edmond

Edmond is located in Oklahoma County, with a population of around 81,400 people. In 2011, CNBC included Edmond on its "10 Perfect Suburbs" list. In 2007, it was also ranked amongst the "Top 100 Places to Live" by Relocated America.

Top employers include the school district, the City of Edmond, Pelco Products, Innovative Healthcare Systems, Remy International, Petra Industries, OU Medical Center, Adfitech, and the University of Central Oklahoma. The legal industry also has a strong presence in Edmond because many resident attorneys practice law in various areas. Therefore, residents and local businesses have no problems when needing legal guidance.

For all the nature-lovers, Edmond is home to some wonderful parks to visit. These parks include Brookhaven Park, Centennial Park, Chitwood Park, Dog Park, Fink Park, Gossett Park, Kelly Park, Ted Anderson Park, and Whispering Heights Park.

Some famous residents include Jim Beaver, Bob Ricks, Reggie Smith, Gil Morgan, Shannon Miller, Blake Griffin, Greyson Chance and Ekpe Udoh.

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