A zoning law in Lafayette, IN, applies to every piece of property, large or small. There are also zoning laws regarding making improvements or adding square footage to your existing home. The city, the county or the township sets zoning laws. These incorporate two uses – commercial and residential. Beyond that, the zoning categories cover – residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, recreational. These categories are then subdivided further.
There are variations in the zoning laws and some grandfathering in for uses that currently are not permitted. A variance permit provides an exception to the zoning ordinance. Some of the zoning variations are discussed below.
Spot Zoning
When the local land officials adopt the zoning law in Lafayette, IN, for certain areas of the
town, a resident or a group of residents can request exceptions to the limitations of the zoning laws. They may request an amendment to the plan or ordinance or they may seek an application for a special use permit or a variance. Other residents may resist, and the zoning officials will have to make a determination regarding the acceptability to the entire community.
Non-Conforming Use
They used to be called “grandfathering in,” but a more appropriate term today is “non-conforming use” for the zoning law in Lafayette, IN. This means someone had an auto repair shop in an area for 20 years and the zoning laws changed for the area making it solely residential. The zoning officials do not require the auto repair shop to move but give them non-conforming use to continue. However, if the auto repair shop closes and the next year someone comes in and wants to open a bicycle repair shop in the same location, he or she probably will not be able to do it because the non-conforming use was a special exception.
Conditional Use
A conditional use in the zoning law in Lafayette, IN, refers to when the zoning officials permit a certain business or a certain activity under a current zoning ordinance. There may be extra restrictions in an area when there are zoning exceptions.
If an attorney wants to place his office in a residential area, the zoning officials may permit it if the attorney agrees to have at least four to six off-street parking spaces. The attorney may additionally file papers saying he or she has met all the requirements the zoning officials set forth.
