Home Car Accident Attorneys Estate Planning Attorneys Divorce and Family Law Real Estate Law Blog Contact Us Blog >Uncategorized>Are Land Use and Zoning the Same Thing? Are Land Use and Zoning the Same Thing? Post author: Legal Information Post published: April 23, 2021 Post category: Uncategorized Zoning and Land Use Land use and development laws have evolved. Early planners were those people who set out to create roadways to connect towns to larger arteries throughout the new country. When small towns started to grow, city leaders would put more detail into these roadways and the buildings that could be constructed around them. While some features were uniform from city to city, such as banks and taverns, others would differ based on the primary function of those in the city. With the country’s growth and the need to control the type of buildings that could be constructed, the government began regulating property with more detail through land use and zoning designations. Land Use Versus Zoning Much has changed since the early days of land planning. The first city in the country to restrict what could be constructed was New York City, and this law was not enacted until 1916. The reason for the regulation was the construction of a skyscraper that many felt devalued the buildings around it. Thus, the city’s leaders established zoning regulations to restrict what builders could construct on a given land plot. Zoning and land use differ in one significant way: regulation. Land use is how planners and developers decide to improve property while zoning laws dictate what they can and cannot do. Zoning Controls Future Developments Large tracts of land are surveyed and studied before improvements are approved. The local government’s planning and zoning authority examines the studies performed regarding soil type, location, and developments in the surrounding area. They then divide the large tract of land into smaller sections with specified zoning designations. Some of the most common include: Residential-single family Residential-multi-family Schools Utility substation Conservation Commercial Industrial The zoning board may impose further regulations on each of these general districts. They can limit the number of homes and specify the type of commercial businesses constructed. The Purpose of Land Use and Zoning Aside from controlling an oversaturation of one development type in a city boundary, zoning performs many other purposes. Without zoning, developers might wipe out large areas of natural habitat critical for supporting at-risk or endangered species. Zoning ensures that complimentary designations are near each other and places restrictions on the size and type of buildings constructed. Zoning considers things such as parking spaces, boundaries, and where utility lines need to go. A developer looking to improve vacant land will need to consider the current zoning in place before plotting the land use. A real estate lawyer can help sort out the regulations in place and even apply for changes if the need arises. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Social Medias Role in Personal Injury Lawsuits December 7, 2019 What to Do After a Slip and Fall on Black Ice December 7, 2019 Regarding Estate Administration and Litigation December 7, 2019 Search this website Recent Posts When Is Mediation Right For Me? Nursing Home Regulations and Laws in Regards to Neglect Are Land Use and Zoning the Same Thing? Child Custody After Divorce What To Do Before Your Court Appearance CONTACT US Name * Email * Comment or Message * SUBMIT James B. Dobbs Law © Copyright 2021