Bensalem Zoning Attorney

Find the right Zoning Planning & Land Use attorney in Bensalem, PA

Zoning Planning & Land Use Law in Pennsylvania

Bensalem, Pennsylvania has laws which control how individual parcels of land can be used, and how they cannot. These rules aren't always simple, and this article should serve as an introduction to some of the most frequent issues that homeowners might face, though it is not meant to turn a layperson into an expert.

"Zoning" refers to a set of laws and regulations which state what use can be made of land in different parts of a city or county. Typically, localities are divided up into "zones," which are designated for particular categories of use, such as single-family residence, business, manufacturing, etc.

There are many different reasons that cities might engage in zoning - but it is normally designed around making cities more livable, by preventing conflicting uses from clashing with one another. After all, few people would want to live in a house next to a vacant lot, if there is a chance that somebody could decide to build a pig farm next door. The security provided by zoning laws helps preserve property values

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 Bensalem, Pennsylvania

If a condition on your property violates the local zoning laws of Bensalem, Pennsylvania, there are a few different solutions.

The most evident solution is to correct the problem, so your property is no longer in violation of local zoning laws. If the violation is minor, and correcting it would not be very costly, this is likely the best way to go.

Of course, simply fixing a zoning violation isn't always modest or easy, and may interfere with your planned use of your property. For example, you might have just undertaken a considerable remodeling of your home, and later found out that some small part of it technically doesn't conform to Bensalem, Pennsylvania'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 extremely minor, and enforcing the ordinance would be unduly burdensome and not in the public interest.

Further, 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 Bensalem, Pennsylvania Attorney Do?

If you find yourself facing zoning or other land use issues, it's important to have good legal advice. A brilliant Bensalem, Pennsylvania attorney will help you work within the law to ensure that you are as free as possible to make the use of your land that you want.

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Life in Bensalem

Bensalem Township is one of the oldest municipalities in the state of Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1692, and is nearly as old as the state of Pennsylvania, which was founded in 1682. It currently has a population of 58,000 and is rich in American historical facts. Benjamin Franklin is reported to have made his historic electricity kite experiment in Bensalem. Currently Bensalem draws numerous residents and visitors with its many attractions. Some of these include the Philadelphia Park Racetrack, which houses horse races, and the Neshaminy Mall. Several companies such as Rita's Franchise Company and Charming Shoppes have their headquarters in the township. Television shows and movies are frequently filmed in the town. The township is reputed to be a "community of firsts", as it is the site of the many "first" buildings and institutions in Pennsylvania. Historians dispute over the origin of the town's name. Some claim it means "peaceful hill" or "mount of peace", while others state that it means "son of peace". Practicing lawyers in Bensalem can file their cases at the Bucks County District Court or the Court of Common Pleas. Bensalem, Pennsylvania lawyers typically handle a wide variety of civil and criminal legal claims.

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