At its core, property zoning is a way for municipalities to determine how land and buildings in certain areas are used. If you’re a commercial investor, it’s very important that you understand how a prospective property is zoned so that you don’t run into any legal issues when trying to establish your business on the property.
When looking at the legality of property use based on zoning restrictions, a property can be said to be:
The first and third definitions are probably pretty simple to understand. Either the property is conforming with current zoning laws, or it is not conforming and the current use is illegal. But what about that second option? How can a property use be nonconforming and legal at the same time? We take a closer look at legal nonconforming property use based on zoning restrictions in today’s blog.
Understanding Zoning Laws And Property Use
One of the first things we do when helping a prospective buyer learn more about a property is dive into the zoning laws. We also look to see if the buyer’s action and plans for the property will conform with the current zoning regulations or if they will be considered legal but nonconforming. But what exactly does this mean?
Legal nonconforming properties are properties that are effectively grandfathered into new zoning regulations.
It’s important to understand how a prospective property is being used in regards to its zoning regulations. If it conforms and you plan to conform with zoning regulations once you purchase the property, you should be in the clear. If the property conforms, but you hope to make changes that do not conform with current zoning regulations, that’s probably not the property to move forward with.
For more information about zoning laws or legal nonconforming use, connect with the team at Commercial Partners today at (612) 337-2470.