Some areas of any given city in Minnesota may be designated as primarily residential, and thus are zoned for family homes, while others are primarily businesses and zoned for commercial use. Minneapolis and surrounding communities utilize different zoning plans and practically all communities include in their layouts designations for commercial space.
What is agricultural zoning?
At one time, much of the United States' economy was supported by farming. At the local, state and national levels, agriculture provided not only the food that Americans needed to sustain themselves, but also a basis from which the economy could grow. Minnesota still produces a number of agricultural products, although new industries, like telecommunications and manufacturing, have invaded on agriculture's once dominant domain.
Historic zoning limits what can be done with certain properties
Last week this Minneapolis real property law blog looked at the specific topic of aesthetic zoning. This week it will focus on another unique form of zoning that property owners in the area may encounter -- historic zoning. As its name implies, historic zoning deals with the preservation and treatment of structures that have existed for long periods of time.
What is aesthetic zoning?
Communities throughout Minnesota may impose a variety of zoning rules on the individuals who own property within their borders. As discussed in prior posts on this real estate and land use law blog, zoning can dictate what types of buildings may be built in which areas of a city or town. Building a structure that does not conform to the zoning regulations permitted for location can result in the builder or property owner facing fines and other sanctions.
The differences between expressed and implied easements
An easement is a right to use another person's property for a specific use or purpose. Many times, easements are created to give individuals means of ingress and egress to their own properties; after all, in order to access their land, they may have to cross the property of other parties. An easement could give an individual the right to cross the neighbor's property for the purpose of getting to or off of his own land.
Don't let building permit issues derail your plans
When a new structure is built in Minneapolis or one of its surrounding communities, it is subject to various local and state regulations. Particularly, a new building generally must secure a building permit before its construction is undertaken. A building permit is effectively permission from a governmental authority to construct a building according to the specifications and details provided in a permit plan.
What land use laws could affect my real property rights?
Ownership of real property may seem to be an absolute right. When a Minneapolis resident buys a tract of land the person may believe that the property owner as the full and unencumbered right to use that tract how the person wants and exactly as the property owner sees fit. However, land use laws may interfere with the use and enjoyment of the property.
Business fights neighbors, zoning to open doors
Just outside of the Twin Cities sits the community of Stillwater, Minnesota. Like many other suburbs of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Stillwater operates with its own city ordinances and community-based rules. It employees a city council to review matters related to its government and recently an interesting zoning issue came up within the town.
Are your neighbors gearing up for a property line dispute?
Many Minneapolis residents have heard the phrase, "good fences make good neighbors." The implication of this concept is that neighbors do better when they are not in each other's business. However, it can be hard for some neighbors to stay out of each other's way when they do not agree on where one party's land ends and the other's begins.
Bogus land use and zoning violations lodged by county official
Each Minnesota county has its own land use and zoning regulations that dictate where and what types of structures may be built on different tracts of land. Depending upon the county, a governing board of some type oversees land use and zoning issues for the county and enforces the rules applicable to such matters. Certain county officials work specifically on land use and zoning matters and help form the county's policies with regard to how real property may be utilized.
