Brown Deer Zoning Attorney

Find the right Zoning Planning & Land Use attorney in Brown Deer, WI

Zoning Planning & Land Use Law in Wisconsin

Brown Deer, Wisconsin has a fairly large number of laws that dictate how particular plots of real estate can and cannot be used, and what can and can't be built on them, and these laws aren't always easy to follow. This article won't make you an authority on the subject, but should introduce you to some of the most crucial concepts in zoning law.

"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. Generally, localities are divided up into "zones," which are designated for certain categories of use, such as single-family residence, business, manufacturing, etc.

There are a lot of rationales and purposes for zoning laws. In general, they're based in common sense: chemical plants shouldn't be built next to daycare centers, pig farms should not be built 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 conducted 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 Brown Deer, Wisconsin

You have quite a few options if you find that a planned or current use of your property violates Brown Deer, Wisconsin's zoning regulations.

First, and perhaps most obviously, you can correct the violation. If the violation is relatively minor, and correcting it would not cost you much or be a significant burden, this might be the best way to go.

However, it isn't always practical or affordable to correct a minor violation of a zoning law. For example, 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 Brown Deer, Wisconsin'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 particular provision of a zoning law to a single violation. These aren't always granted, but generally 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 significant 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 Brown Deer, Wisconsin Attorney Do?

If you suddenly become involved in a zoning dispute with your local government, it's essential to seek competent legal representation. The counsel of an experienced Brown Deer, Wisconsin 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.

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Life in Brown Deer

Brown Deer is a village in Milwaukee County and was formerly a part of the town of Granville. Brown Deer officially incorporated on January 20, 1955 and is home to 13,000 Wisconsin residents. The village covers a total of 4.4 square miles and plays host to a large population of Caucasians and African-Americans over half of whom are married. The village is one of only two municipalities in Wisconsin that retains an African American population greater than 10%.

Brown Deer is popular among families because of it's great schools which include Deen Elementary School, Brown Deer Middle School, and Brown Deer High School. Formerly, Algonquin Elementary School was open on North 47th Street but closed because it could not compete with the newer Deen Elementary School. Brown Deer residents enjoy access to many nearby parks and shopping centers that also attract visitors from neighboring counties. Brown Deer also has an outstanding kids sports program for residents which offers baseball, soccer, and basketball among other sports.

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