How to Cope With Zoning Boards

Zoning boards are a fact of life in every community. Everyone who owns property should be familiar with the zoning laws in their community because they will at one time or another come before the zoning board. A necessary evil in modern society, the zoning board isn't something to mess around with. Read on to learn how to work effectively with your local zoning board.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Know the law. Knowing the law is generally a good practice in modern society. Laws can be complicated, interpreted and broken, but actually knowing what they say is the best foundation. Zoning law usually has some particular local details you should be aware of because it's easy to be in violation of the local zoning law and not even realize it.
2. Be humble. Now that you know the zoning laws, it isn't wise to march over to the zoning board and start quoting. Local politics always comes into play when dealing with a zoning board. Members of the zoning board, who may be cashiers or housewives during the day, take their evening job very seriously. Remember to show respect for the tremendous power they wield.
3. Work with the system. A practical soul once uttered these words: "You can't fight city hall." The zoning board believes it's the ultimate caretaker of your community, and you won't make any progress fighting it head-on. Instead, try to work with the members of the board to resolve any zoning issues you have or move a project forward that requires zoning approval.
4. Persist. You can't beat them, but you can wear them down. Once you get tangled with the zoning board, turn your pot down to simmer and put a lid on it. Getting satisfaction from the zoning board is a long, slow process. However, if you remain calm and continue to work with them, gently questioning their decisions, you can bring your matter to a favorable conclusion.