Most zoning ordinances have residential zoning districts. One of these is usually a district where the primary permitted land use is single family detached housing. Multifamily housing and group living arrangements (as well as commercial and industrial land uses) are … Read more
Regulating video gaming and gambling of one sort or another has vexed state and local governments in North Carolina for the better part of two decades. A recent court opinion held the current version of the state’s ban on internet … Read more
Ralph Kramden is working his way through the morning paper, waiting for his second cup of coffee to kick in. He suddenly jumps up, knocking his coffee to the floor in the process. “Alice, did you see what those yahoos … Read more
The recession that began in 2008 hit the real estate market particularly hard. Many projects that had been approved lost their funding or had little market for the housing, offices, and shops that would have been built. One response to … Read more
My current preoccupation (a temporary one, I hope) is certificates of occupancy. I don’t mean those permissions necessary to occupy public property in the Raleigh, New York, or Washington demonstrations that have been in the news. No, I mean those … Read more
Earlier this year it was reported in an Arizona newspaper that a prominent community activist (Ms. Smith) might face misdemeanor charges after witnesses saw her stealing campaign signs that Ms. Smith said were illegal and “negative” in their message. It … Read more
A developer proposes a multi-phased residential development. The developer secures a rezoning from low-density residential to a higher-density residential zoning district in order to build the project. A site plan for the development is approved. The project is very successful, … Read more
A proposal to rezone a 15-acre tract is pending before the town council. The tract is near the edge of town. It fronts one of the town’s major roads and is occupied by three vacant residences. It is zoned for medium … Read more
UPDATE September 2013: In 2013 the General Assembly expanded the scope of the bona-fide-farm exemption in several respects. S.L. 2013 – 347 amends G.S. 153A-340 to provide that exempt activity includes agricultural activity associated with a farm “and any other … Read more