Variance and Procedure:You have to file an application for variance stating the reasons for making the variance, along with the prescribed fee to the local zoning board. The procedure will be followed by giving notices to your neighbors confined within a particular distance from your property. The local zoning authority will consider the objections raised by your neighbors and depending upon the objections raised it will decide whether or not to grant permit for your property. If similar variance has been filed in your area earlier, granting permit to your property will become much easier. You can also appoint an attorney to represent on behalf of you to grant the permit for variance. What is Rezone?:If you want to make a change in your zoning i.e. changing a part of your land from residential to commercial or for any other use such as agriculture, industrial, you have to submit an application to the local zoning board with the prescribed fee stating the reasons for the change. You will be required to give a notice to all neighborhood property owners in order to give an opportunity for presenting their objections. Open public hearings will be held to speak out their objections. Depending upon the objections raised your application will be considered by the authorities for granting permit. It may take several months for completion of the proceedings. You can also appoint an attorney to represent on behalf of you to grant permit for the change in zoning. Rezoning and Objection:If you want to object to the rezoning made by your neighbor, you can make your objection stating the reasons for such an objection and in what way the rezoning will affect you and deprive of your rights. If you are an aggrieved party, you can also make an appeal to the local appeals board. If any of the zoning rules is arbitrary and unreasonable you can challenge the particular rule before the court to remove it from the zoning ordinances. Violation of Zoning Rules:After getting approval I constructed a building which consists only of the ground floor. You have to pay a serious attention to the local zoning laws. Suppose you raise any building without the approval, you will be asked to pay a heavy fine or the building might be pulled down as the case may be. Similarly, if you do any business without a legal permit, your business activities will be shut down, it will attract penal provision and you may be asked to pay a heavy fine. |
