Waxahachie Zoning Attorney

Find the right Zoning Planning & Land Use attorney in Waxahachie, TX

Zoning Planning & Land Use Law in Texas

Waxahachie, Texas has laws which regulate 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 prevalent issues that homeowners might face, though it is not meant to turn a layperson into an expert.

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.

Zoning serves various different purposes - but it its general one is to increase or preserve property values by ensuring that conflicting uses don't result in legal disputes. Obviously, if you bought a house in a residential neighborhood, and your neighbor could just convert his property into a steel mill, your property's value as a residential lot would decrease considerably.

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 Waxahachie, Texas

If a condition on your property breaks the local zoning laws of Waxahachie, Texas, there are a few different solutions.

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 considerably interfere with your use of your property, this is likely the ideal course of action.

However, it isn't always practical or affordable to correct a minor violation of a zoning law. For instance, suppose you have just spent a large amount of money and effort remodeling a house to turn it into your dream home. You thought you were in total compliance with local zoning laws when you did this, but find out that there is some small, technical violation of Waxahachie, Texas's zoning laws. In these cases, you have recourse in the form of a variance. You are entitled to petition the local zoning board to grant you a variance, which is an official decision not to apply a certain provision of a zoning law to a single violation. These aren't always granted, but usually have to be granted if the violation doesn't interfere with anyone else's use of their property, and doesn't thwart the purposes of local zoning laws.

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 Waxahachie, Texas 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 Waxahachie, Texas 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 Waxahachie

The city of Waxahachie, Texas isa suburb of the state capital of Dallas and houses a population of just under 22,000 residents. Waxahachie is an easy thirty mile drive to Dallas, making the suburb a popular place for the city worker to live. Waxahachie comprises almost forty two square miles. The city gets its unique name from the Native American word for "cow creek" or "buffalo creek." The city's economy is very industry-based, although there are also two universities located in Waxahachie: Southern Assemblies of God University and Navarro College. Early College High School, located in the heart of Waxahachie is considered one of the top high schools in the state of Texas. The city is also the site of an annual Renaissance fair that draws international attention. Waxahachie also has some notable legal landmarks. The Richardsonian Romanesque Courthouse, which is considered to be best of Texas' older courthouses is located in Waxahachie. With such a pretty location to practice, it is no wonder that there are so many great lawyers located in the city limits. Waxahachie lawyers are skilled in a range of practice areas and able to help their local client with any legal issue he or she is confronted with.

Clients Rate LegalMatch Attorneys
(click to read reviews)

Nicholas M.
Nicholas M.

Real Estate, Housing & Property Law

Golden, CO

Carl M.
Carl M.

Real Estate, Housing & Property Law

Seattle, WA

David A.
David A.

Real Estate, Housing & Property Law

Walnut Creek, CA