Buying A Home - Zoning And Architectural Review Board
By Raynor James, Fri Dec 9th

When you buy a home, you need to be aware of the various thingsthat can limit your control over the property. This is as truefor finished lots and single family homes as it is fortownhouses, condos, and apartments. It's a good idea tounderstand these limitations before you buy, so that you candecide whether you're willing to live with them or not. Afteryou buy, it's too late; you're stuck.

Zoning

In most jurisdictions, zoning limits how



a piece of property canbe used. There are many variations of residential zoning. Insome, no business activity is permitted. Some allow businessactivity but no signs. In some, no commercial vehicles can beparked regularly.

Some residential zones permit only a single dwelling per quarteracre, per acre or per ten acres. Most limit the owner's abilityto subdivide land. Some allow only single family dwellings whileothers allow high rise apartments. Still others allowapartments, but limit the height of apartment buildings. Many donot allow mobile homes.

Some jurisdictions have "overlay districts" in addition tozoning. These are common in areas with many older buildings anda community desire to preserve them. Additions to homes of thistype are obviously restricted, but restrictions regarding thelocation, style, height, and even whether they're allowed at allor not, also applies to fences, sheds, walks, gates, and similarancillary structures.

Fredericksburg, Virginia has a forty block "historic district."Residents of this area must follow normal zoning rules. However,they must also submit an application to the Architectural ReviewBoard for any changes to the visible exterior of their homes.This can be a surprise for some new homeowners in the area.

You can find detailed information about zoning, overlaydistricts and the like fairly easily. Simply visit thecourthouse for the county in which the property is located orask your real estate professionals for assistance.

About the author:Raynor James is with http://www.fsboamerica.org - providing FSBOhomes For Sale By Owner. Visit our "sell my home" page athttp://www.fsboamerica.org/seller.cfm to list and sell your homefor free for one month. Visithttp://www.fsboamerica.org/buyer.cfm to see homes for sale byowner.

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