Zoning and Land Use

Zoning and land use are at the heart of everyday life. Many of the most basic things that people and businesses do on a daily basis are dictated by land use and zoning: where people live; where offices and factories are located, where people shop and where children go to school. Land use and zoning help to protect property values, can be used to encourage economic development and revitalization, and are keys to addressing pressing matters like run-off, stormwater and flooding.

Despite their centrality to daily life, zoning and land use issues can be very complex. Pennsylvania has 67 counties. Within those 67 counties are 1,454 townships, over 950 boroughs and more than 50 cities. Add in school districts and other local governmental units and the result, according to the United States Census Bureau, is that Pennsylvania has one of the highest numbers of local governments in the United States. The result is a wide and varied array of rules and regulations governing where and how life and commerce can take place now and in the future.

Additionally, while unfortunate, disputes arise regarding property ownership and property rights. Whether boundary disputes, water inundation/flooding, nuisance or property partition actions, owning real estate can be challenging.

Houston Harbaugh’s Zoning and Land Use attorneys have experience assisting clients and helping them through the complexities of interactions with government entities and other parties to promote and protect property interests in matters including: