What impact can zoning and land use restrictions have on the property that I intend to buy?

Zoning and land use regulations are controls placed by the applicable municipality that dictate what type of buildings can be built on a property, how the land owners can utilize their property, and how the type and use of one piece of real estate must relate to the others surrounding it. Zoning ordinances are broken down generally into broad categories (residential, commercial, agricultural or industrial) and can be narrowed further depending on the complexity of the municipality's code. They can restrict the type and number of businesses that can operate in each location, require additional regulations, such as a certain number of parking spaces, size of business signs, and size of a building per lot size. Even if you are buying a piece of property that has a similar business operating on it at the time you purchase it, zoning ordinances and districts can change over time. Many times, the current use is allowed to continue (or “grandfathered”) as a non-conforming use. However, it is possible that you may be precluded from continuing to operate your business without a variance, or an exception to the current ordinance. It is always important to check the zoning for the property you intend to purchase to see if it is properly zoned for your intended use.

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