Land Use & Zoning Attorneys Santa Cruz County
The law firm of Dawson, Passafuime, Bowden & Martinez assist clients with zoning and land use issues in the cities of Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley, Capitol, and Watsonville as well non-incorporated areas under the jurisdiction of the County of Santa Cruz.
Zoning refers to regulations on land use that is determined by local government. The regulations can be determined by a city such as Scotts Valley or by a county such as Santa Cruz County. Land use and zoning regulations govern what is acceptable in a given area such as the number of lots on a property, height of building, and the type of building allowed on a lot.
When seeking to obtain building permits, it is necessary to consider the relevant zoning regulations and to determine whether to obtain a variance. Land use that does not comply with zoning ordinances can be considered non-conforming use if it existed before the zoning ordinance was passed and there may not be a need to obtain a variance. Since Santa Cruz County has many historic buildings, there are many zoning issues relating to historic preservation.
A real estate lawyer can help home owners, business owners, architects, and developers by informing them on land use and zoning options. A real estate attorney can also assist you in public hearings as well as represent you before municipal boards.