For many property owners, it is surprising to learn that the federal government has the ability to determine how one can use certain types of property. There are typically strict rules regarding what one can and cannot do with a building or pieces of land due to...
Land Use & Zoning
An understanding of land use and how it impacts property owners
The development of land for personal or commercial purposes is a difficult process that requires consideration of legal, financial and even environmental factors. This is why land use planning is a critical component of development and property ownership, regardless...
Eminent domain and threats to environmental well-being
Georgia property owners may be surprised to learn that they could lose a significant portion of privately owned property if the government decides to take it. Under the principle of eminent domain, it is possible for a government agency to claim land from a private...
3 zoning categories of land use in Georgia
Georgia zoning ordinances and decisions are meant to support the public’s welfare. If you’re a property owner who wants to add on to your home or erect an outbuilding or other structure, completion of your project must be in accordance with all relevant zoning...
You can fight city hall on rezoning issues
Your Georgia home is your place of refuge, and it is also likely one of your biggest investments. Nothing may lower the value and enjoyability of a home faster than zoning changes that allow undesirable development in your area or threaten the peace and safety of your...
Can the government just take my land?
Your Georgia home and property are undoubtedly a source of pride for you. Even if you don’t spend as much time as you would like to make it look like a magazine cover, just having ownership is a success, whether you inherited it from family or bought it with your...
Landfill Victory
On June 23rd the Screven County Board of Commissioners did not vote on a proposed regional landfill because Atlantic Waste management pulled its application request. Ogeechee Riverkeeper believes they would have been denied and therefore pulled its request. If...
Zoning issues can stall projects
Starting a new project here in the Atlanta area may provide a sense of excitement, but it also provides numerous tasks and potential obstacles that require attention. For instance, zoning issues can be particularly tricky to deal with, especially if a request to...
Many new developments in Georgia encounter zoning issues
Over the years, many industrial businesses have gone out of business here in Georgia just as they do everywhere else. Sometimes, those properties stay empty for years until a developer comes along and wants to make use of the land. Unless the developer uses the...
A delicate balance is needed in land-use planning
Some areas of Georgia need to continue to grow and expand. This requires municipal authorities to determine how to best use the available land in order to accommodate growth and preserve the environment. A great deal of land-use planning requires a balance of these...