Understand the legal standards for obtaining a zoning variance, including demonstrating unique hardship, compliance with community plans, and minimal adverse impact.

Explore the purpose and process of obtaining a special use permit, including zoning considerations, public hearings, and strategies for securing approval for your project.

Review the most frequent zoning disputes in Albany, from property line disagreements to challenges over permitted uses and development restrictions.

If you believe your building permit was wrongly denied, one option is to appeal based on a misinterpretation of the zoning code. This approach requires you to identify the exact zoning provision in question and clearly explain how it should be correctly interpreted in the context of your property and plans.

Understand how zoning policies and environmental objectives work together to shape sustainable development while protecting public health and ecosystems.

Explore the purpose and process of an Article 78 proceeding, from filing requirements to potential outcomes, when challenging government decisions in New York.

Gain insight into the role of zoning maps and text amendments in shaping property use, development rights, and compliance requirements for landowners and developers.

A property becomes non‑conforming under New York zoning when a once‑legal use or structure no longer meets newer zoning rules. While these uses and buildings are typically protected, you may face limits on expansion, reconstruction after damage, and rebuilding after substantial destruction.

When requesting a zoning variance in New York, local property owners are formally notified and can attend the public hearing to voice support or objections. While neighbors don’t decide the outcome, their testimony may inform the Zoning Board’s assessment of community impact and hardship.