Waukesha Zoning Attorney

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

Zoning Planning & Land Use Law in Wisconsin

Waukesha, Wisconsin has a fairly considerable number of laws that dictate how specific 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 essential concepts in zoning law.

"Zoning" is the process by which a local government makes laws determining how individual pieces of land within its jurisdiction can be used. Typically, towns or cities are segmented off into "zones," each one being designated for a specific type of use. Examples of typical zoning categories are single family residence, commercial, multi-unit housing, or industrial.

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 create a noisy, smelly, dirty factory on it.

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 Waukesha, Wisconsin

Suppose you find that some condition on your land is in violation of Waukesha, Wisconsin's zoning laws. In cases like this, you have quite a few avenues.

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.

What if, however, you've invested a substantial 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 typically 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 Waukesha, Wisconsin's zoning laws, a variance will typically be granted.

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 Waukesha, Wisconsin Attorney Do?

If you want to make improvements to your property, apply for a variance, or contest a zoning regulation as being applied to you retroactively, you have a right to do so, including some constitutional protections. However, your chances of prevailing in a zoning conflict will be markedly improved if you hire an efficient Waukesha, Wisconsin real estate attorney to help.

Talk to a Real Estate Law Attorney now!

Life in Waukesha

With a population of just under 65,000, Waukesha is a very popular Wisconsin city to live and work in. In fact, it was ranked 36th on the Top 100 places to live, and one of the 100 best communities for young people to live in as well. The city is located just eighteen miles from Milwaukee. With all that recognition, it is no wonder that there are so many great lawyers in Waukesha. Whether at the beginning or the end of their legal career, there is a Waukesha lawyer skilled in whatever legal issue you may be dealing with. In addition to lawyers and a great professional community, Waukesha is also home to many great colleges and universities, including: Carroll University, University of Wisconsin-Waukesha, and the New Tribes Bible Institute.

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