Jackson Zoning Attorney

Find the right Zoning Planning & Land Use attorney in Jackson, TN

Zoning Planning & Land Use Law in Tennessee

Jackson, Tennessee 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.

Local governments will normally divide the city or town into sections, called "zones," each of which is designated for a specific use, such as residential homes, commercial businesses, agriculture, manufacturing, etc. This process is known as "zoning."

The purpose of zoning is to preserve property values, and make towns and cities more livable. For instance, without zoning laws, a company might be able to purchase a vacant lot next to your house and construct 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 various legal disputes that would be inevitable if they were closer to a residential area.

Possible Outcomes of Boundary and Title Disputes in Jackson, Tennessee

You have quite a few options if you find that a planned or prevailing use of your property breaks Jackson, Tennessee's zoning regulations.

It should be clear, however, that the ideal solution is to just fix any condition on your property which is in violation of a local zoning law. If the violation is not significant, and correcting it won't substantially interfere with your use of your property, this is likely the ideal course of action.

What if, however, you've invested a considerable amount of time and money into making an improvement on your property, only to find that it breaks your local zoning laws in some minor way? In this case, you can apply for a variance. This is basically 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 Jackson, Tennessee's zoning laws, a variance will normally be granted.

You also have considerable 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 Jackson, Tennessee Attorney Do?

If you suddenly become involved in a zoning dispute with your local government, it's necessary to seek competent legal representation. The counsel of an accomplished Jackson, Tennessee 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 Jackson

Jackson is located in Madison County, Tennessee. Per the 2010 census, it has a population of 65,211 people.

Some interesting facts about Jackson are that the popular Hub City Hurricanes played in Jackson in 2007. From 1990-2011 the city hosted the NAIA Women's Division I National Championship basketball tournament. Also, the West Tennessee Healthcare Sportsplex hosts many tournaments throughout the year; it is a travel baseball and softball complex.

Some famous residents include Carl Perkins, Casey Jones, Lauren Pritchard, Christopher Jones, Gil Scott-Heron, and Sonny Boy Williamson.

Jackson is also home to many law offices and firms that train attorneys to practice in all areas of law. Thus, residents do not need to travel far to receive excellent legal services.

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