Zoning laws can be particularly important to property owners because they can have a dramatic impact on the property owner’s use of their property. Zoning laws regulate the development and use of real estate; the most common type of land-use law includes zoning laws.
Typically, zoning laws divide a city or municipality into commercial zones, industrial zones and residential zones. Mixed-use zones are also a possibility. Zoning regulations address specific requirements related to the types of buildings allowed on the property; restrictions on building setbacks from the street and other boundaries and additional buildings on the property; the size and height of buildings; the number of rooms allowed in buildings; parking; and the location of utility lines.
Additional zoning regulations may address restrictions on frontage of lots, minimum lot area, front, rear and side yards, the number of buildings on a lot, the number of dwelling units in a specified area and off-street parking. Because of the significant impact zoning regulations can have on the use and value of the owner’s property, it is important for them to understand how they can challenge zoning regulations. It may be possible to appeal a zoning regulation or to request a variance from the zoning regulations.
It is helpful for any property owner to be familiar with land use law and business law and the ways the different areas of the law can impact their interests and also protect them. Legal tools and resources can be used to help protect the property owner’s interests and investment which is why properly owners should be aware of the legal resources available to them.