Zoning and Classification of Land:

The general classification of the land is residential, commercial, industrial and agriculture.

If you take residential, the government again divides the residential part alone for the use of single family homes, apartment, hotels, houses for lodging etc. If you take the apartment, the apartment are classified as low-rise apartment, high rise apartment etc. Such classification is made as R-1, R-2, R-3 etc. R-1 is for single family homes, R-2 is for two dwelling units and R-3 for apartment complexes.

If you take an industrial zone it is classified as heavy industrial zone, light industrial zone, research industrial zone. If you take the commercial zone it is classified as small stores, shopping centers, etc.

If you take the agriculture zone, the zone is purely allotted for agriculture, and the government will not permit the land for any other purposes.

Zoning and Awareness:

If you buy a building, you have to see whether the owner of the building got an approval for constructing the building. For each and every storey the owner has to get approval from the zoning authorities for constructing the storey. You have to check with the local zoning authorities whether the property matches with the local zoning law.

Before buying any such land always see that the property fits the zoning regulations of the land.

If you had bought any such property which does not fit the zoning rules and regulations, see whether the property can be rezoned.

You can also apply for a variance or a conditional use or for a nonconforming use permit.

Zoning and Variance:

If you want to modify something in your land or building which is not permitted by the zoning laws, you can require the concerned authorities to give permit for such modification as long as the modification does not affect the zoning laws widely. This modification is termed as the variance. Giving or rejecting the permit depends on the variance you make and how it will affect the zoning laws.

You have to reason out properly why you need such a variance. You have to show

• That without the variance you are facing serious problems and hardships
• That the variance will not affect the properties in the neighborhood
• That the variance will not alter the characteristics of the nearby areas
• That the variance will not be a threat to the health and safety of nearby areas

If your variance will affect the easement right or spoils the appearance of the neighboring properties or it gives hardship to the neighbors you will not be granted permit for such variance.

Rezoning and Variance