Utility companies provide crucial services to help homes become habitable and businesses perform basic functions. Gas, electrical, water and sewer service are the most crucial utilities provided by private companies, although telecommunication utility providers also...
Your real property may be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, even if the land you own is only a fraction of an acre. Although you may focus on the home where you live, your yard is valuable as well. Your outdoor space will be as important as the improvements you...
Zoning law in Massachusetts is specific. These rules help preserve the characteristics of a community and the value of individual properties. When you buy a property, you may only use it in a manner consistent with the current zoning for the land. Those who violate...
Are you interested in starting a small business from home? If you are, you might think that you can start regardless of how your property is zoned, but you need to be sure that it is zoned for commercial use. The local zoning regulations, ordinances and bylaws may...
Neighbors often share certain parts of their yards near or at the boundary line. For example, neighbors may split the costs to maintain or install a fence along their shared property line. They might both benefit from a tree planted near the property line that...
Local governments have zoning in place as a way to manage the land use of different cities and towns. Generally, these local governments want to help maintain local infrastructures and control the population geographically so that infrastructure can properly function...
If you have a restrictive covenant affecting your property, you should know that it may restrict the ways that you can use your land. The reason for this restrictive covenant is usually to preserve the value and enjoyment of pieces of adjoining lands. For instance,...
While this doesn't happen often, city planning boards may have to deal with the request of a petitioner to rezone property. However, anyone who objects to the rezoning may claim that rezoning is actually an unlawful practice known as spot zoning. When this occurs, the...
Property locations can pose a challenge in Massachusetts. If you own a large section of land, there might be people who want to go hiking, fishing, or hunting on your property. You might also have people who want to cross through your property to get from one place to...
This question is heard a lot here in Boston and around the state when owners contemplate changes to their property. In either case, the owner must follow a process for filing an appeal with the appropriate local Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA). Each municipality has its...
