Zoning & Land Law

According to the website of the United States Geologic Survey (USGS), phosphorus can be found in most lakes and rivers. The chemical is a common component of fertilizers, animal waste and human...

The International Building Code (IBC) is a set of model ordinances that is available for adoption and use by any municipal governmental jurisdictions worldwide. It provides for minimum health,...

International building codes are designed and published by the International Code Council (ICC), which has its world headquarters located in Washington, D.C. Known simply as International Codes,...

Whether you are a code officer, fire marshal, elected official, or just someone who has a vested interest in his community's appearance, maintaining records of code actions is a good way to ensure...

Solar heating systems produce a completely clean and renewable source of energy, and can meet almost all of a home's power needs. However, these systems usually change the structure and look of a...

If you want to write a petition regarding property taxes, there are two areas to attack: Taxing entities like your village, town, city, county or school district; or the local assessor's office,...

Street address changes are handled by the zoning department in your local municipality. Uniform street addresses make it easier for 911 personnel to find your house in an emergency, and also make...

A placard is a durable sign attached to a building, fence, vehicle, door, etc., to provide important information usually related to safety. Placards can also be movable, such as ones used in...

Code enforcement, from condemning buildings to investigating poor plumbing, is adopted by communities to preserve the safety, cleanliness and property values of a municipality or other community....

Boundaries are necessary for any healthy relationship, be it family, friends or neighbors. Setting limits provides personal space and a sense of safety, and offers the opportunity for mutual...

Government grants for mining in the United States serve two primary functions---to assist territories that have assumed regulatory control of active mines, and to provide funding for cleanup of...

Condominiums are known as community titles schemes in Australia, and there are nearly 36,000 subdivided into more than 300,000 lots in the state of Queensland alone. The law that governs how...

The Texas Forest Service, or TFS, is the key government regulator of all matters pertaining to forests and forestry in the state of Texas.

Vermont's state laws regarding the abatement of lead in houses and other structures can primarily be found under Vermont Statutes Annotated Title 18, Chapter 38 and the federal Residential...

The New Jersey Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Act is a piece of legislation created in the 1970s to prevent the spread of soil erosion. The Act is located in Title 4, Section 24 of New Jersey...

Fire safety laws for state responsibility areas in California Public Resources Code 4290 are regulated under what is known as the "SRA Fire Safe Regulations." This can be found in Title 14,...

When building or using fire pits, there is something important to consider before lighting up: the law. Individual town and county fire pit laws can vary considerably, so it is a good idea to...

Land disputes are common among both public and private property owners in the United States. Longstanding legal battles can arise because of such problems, and only one document can provide a...

According to the National Fire Protection Association, there is at least one smoke detector in 96 percent of all U.S homes. The ubiquity of smoke detectors extends to Davenport, Iowa, where...

In the city of Canton, Ohio, in an effort to beautify the city, lawmakers have created Ordinance 551.02 to get negligent homeowners to keep their grass cut. This law states that if you have grass...

The Pinelands, also known as the Pine Barrens, is the East Coast's largest contiguous wilderness area and ecosystem. The area covers much of southern New Jersey, stretching across seven counties....

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) mission is to support and encourage affordable home ownership for low-income families. HUD also enforces the Fair Housing Act of 1968...

Antique car hobbyists have a passion for collecting fine motor vehicles, which often includes acquiring not-so-fine specimens to be used for parts or restoration. Local zoning and land use law...

A squatter, or someone who is living without permission on the property of another, is known as an adverse possessor under the law. If the adverse possessor can fulfill legal requirements, he may...

Getting tired of your government telling you what to do? Well heres your solution: Start your own country. Its what George Washington would do.

In Florida, where many retirees settle, homeowners associations create lots of controversy. Some prefer to have the groups. Others abhor them. Much of the split opinion centers on the rules that...

Laws for posting a piece of real estate with no-trespassing signs vary from state to state. Strict compliance with local trespassing laws is required if a landowner wishes to be able to pursue...

The federal government controls approximately 67 percent of Utah's land, according to Carl Ege of Utah.gov. Other than withdrawn areas -- such as national parks, wildlife refuges and military...

Manufactured housing is also often referred to as mobile homes or factory-built housing. Manufactured homes are simply housing units constructed in a factory and designed to be transported, in one...

Squatting is a term typically used to describe homeless people inhabiting an empty building. There may be as many as 30,000 squatters in England. Squatting is legal in England, although if issues...

From the 1066 Norman Conquest until the Black Death in the 1340s, English agricultural workers' status was fixed into three classes. A few free Norman tenants paid rent and military service for...

Incorporation literally means the act of creating a corporation--a body that conducts trade and business. City incorporation is very similar, with municipalities being created for the purpose of...

Asbestos is a group of six minerals that are resistant to heat and structurally strong. It is made up of tiny fibers that can become airborne, and if inhaled may cause diseases such as asbestosis,...

As an investment, vacant land can be a combination of untapped potential and infinite possibility. Undeveloped acreage can become a parking lot, a ball park, a resort, a farm, a ranch or whatever...

In a city of over 8 million people where there seems hardly enough room for the people, let alone the trees, Mayor Michael Bloomberg recently announced a plan to plant a million new trees in the...

First be well informed, get as much information about your mortgage and the loan modification process. Via internet lawyers, HUD hotline.Make sure that it would even make sense to your servicer to...

Ohio land laws encompass the use and permitted zoning related to land around the state. The Land Use Control laws explain the rules regarding limited use, zoning, development, variances, land...

If you are building a project that is likely to have an impact on the surrounding environment, you will probably have to do an environmental impact assessment (EIA). An EIA is the results of an...

There is no free federal government land in the United States. If someone wants your money to put you in touch with listings of free federal land, you might as well put your money down on a bridge...

Plat maps were drawn at the time villages, towns and cities were founded. Federal land acts required surveying and platting before land was put up for sale. Surveyors drew plat maps by measuring...

All buildings must conform to safety standards required by authorities. In the United States, the federal government has limited laws on building safety and codes. The federal government has...

Gold mining has been around for hundreds of years. It is thought of as a thing of the past, but in fact, it is still a very valid option for many miners today. There are a few general...

Gold mining has been around for hundreds of years. It is thought of as a thing of the past, but in fact, it is still a very valid option for many miners today. There are a few general things that...

Ramps are important for wheelchair users to access different levels in buildings. A full listing of wheelchair ramp specifications is located on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) website...

Eminent Domain is the power given to U.S. governmental bodies to seize private property---at current market values---for public uses, such as roads or parks.

Each city and state has different rules governing the posting of traffic signs on roadways. If these rules are not followed, the sign will be categorized as a "public nuisance" and removed. If you...

We've all heard it said that you can't fight City Hall but the truth is, it's done every day. The secret to changing local ordinances is to do your homework ahead of time and by following a step...

How do I request new school district zoning? What’s the first step? Whom do I contact? What issues may arise? If you are interested in requesting new school district zoning in your area, you...

Locum tenens is a general term to mean individuals hired by a company or institution to provide temporary service to "fill in" at times where permanent employees are not available. In practice,...

You own a piece of real estate and have a great idea about how it can be used, but it will require you to make a pitch to the local zoning authority so that its future use can conform to your...