What is Municipal Law?

Common Municipal and Zoning Law Terms

1. Bylaws are a set of rules on activities, such as meetings, record taking, etc., that municipal boards use to conduct business. 

2. Ordinance is a law created by a municipality.

3. Zoning Ordinance regulates how properties within the municipality may be used, such as residential or commercial. Those uses may be permitted by right, and others may be allowed by conditional use or special exception.

4. Zoning Hearing Board is a board that deals with zoning matters. Its actions are based on the municipality’s zoning ordinances.

5. Building Permit is an official approval to take certain actions like the construction of a new building or the remodeling of an existing building. The purpose of a building permit is to ensure that all applicable regulations are followed.

6. An Easement "gives a person, company, or government the right to use someone else's real estate for a specific purpose. It doesn't grant them an ownership interest." 

7. Setback is the required distance between a building or structure from a property line or right-of-way. 

8. Permitted Use states how a property may be used based on the applicable zoning ordinance. It does not require special exception or conditional use approval.

9. Special Exception grants permission to use a property under specified conditions.

10. Conditional Use is similar to a special exception, but instead of being decided by the zoning hearing board, it is decided by the municipality's governing body. 

11. Variance allows a property owner to use a property that deviates from a particular regulation set by the applicable zoning ordinance.