Zoning

The purpose of zoning is to divide different pieces of land used for specific purposes, and they are organized in a way that they don’t interfere with each other. Nobody wants to live in a neighborhood that’s near a factory or industrial complex, but you may want to have easy access to grocery stores and shopping malls. This is the basic idea behind zoning, as it takes these factors into careful consideration.

Types of Zoning

Zones can be categorized into three different types:

• Residential
• Commercial
• Industrial

Once a piece of land has been zoned, it must be used for that purpose. The idea is to divide various parts of a city to make the area more pleasant to live, and a number of factors are taken into consideration.

While there aren’t many people who want to live near industrial areas, more people want to be close to commercial properties. People want shorter commutes to work, and they want to have easy access to grocery stores and strip malls. So, zoning laws are changing to reflect those needs.

Zoning Regulations

Each zoning type has its set of regulations, and it depends on what the land is being used for. Some of these laws can include, but they are not limited to:

• Types of buildings allowed
• Placement of utility lines
• Location of a building
• Distance of a building from the street
• Location of accessory buildings
• Location of parking
• Minimum cost of a building
• Number of rooms in a building
• Size of a building

There may also be regulations of the types of properties that can be built on a particular zone. Some of these can include, but are not limited to:

• Single-family
• Multi-family
• Townhome
• Apartment complex
• Condominium complex

Certain historical properties may also be protected in an effort to preserve them. So, regulations will be in place to reflect those needs.

Development Regulations

While zoning laws aren’t meant to control any existing structures, they are designed to control any future developments in that particular area. Cities usually have a “master plan” for the construction of a new property, which they do through ordinances and other regulations.

Cities may have plans for new street developments, or they may want to build new public facilities (such as parks and libraries). So, developers are required to build any new properties to reflect that plan, which means that they must comply with any new or existing regulations related to that particular zone.

In many cases, the actions of one area can impact the performance of neighboring cities. For this reason, planning is sometimes done at the regional or state level. Cities can conflict with each other, so broader planning is sometimes necessary to make sure it doesn’t happen.

Non-Governmental Restrictions

Aside from government regulations, land developers can also pose their own restrictions in certain neighborhoods they are building on. They may have their own “master plan,” so they want to make sure that things go according to what they want to accomplish.

Some of the restrictions that land developers can impose may include, but are not limited to:

• Restricting covenants – These restrictions are designed to prohibit or restrict certain properties from being used in a particular way.
• Easements – These restrictions are designed to give someone the right to use another person’s property for a specific purpose. This can include using a property for the purpose of preservation or conservation of a surrounding area so that it can be used by the general public.

Finding a Real Estate Attorney

If you’re planning to build in a particular area, it’s important to understand the zoning laws in your city. Depending on what type of property you’re planning to develop, you have to find out if you will be able to build in that location. You also have to know what type of restrictions apply that particular area.

Zoning laws are always changing, and it’s important to comply with any new or current regulations related to land development. You should consider talking to a real estate attorney so you can stay informed of any recent changes that might have been made.

If you want to find out how we can help you, get in touch with us today!