Monthly Archives: July 2011

Zoning laws and regulations can be vitally important for new startups, existing businesses and expanding businesses alike. Broadly, zoning covers the way state and local governments regulate the use of land. Typically, zoning regulations cover the type and size of structures that can be built on any given piece of property.

As the recession lingers on, many Pennsylvania communities are attempting to encourage development and redevelopment. As a result, many cities and towns are considering policies that could create great opportunities for development in Pennsylvania.

Getting a real estate development project from the drawing board to occupancy can be a difficult task. In addition to needing to find an adequate site and reliable contractors, a developer needs to navigate an often-confusing minefield of regulations, permits, and red tape.

Almost every construction and development project in Pennsylvania needs to go through a series of legal processes. One of the most important steps in getting a project underway involves getting approval from a governmental zoning agency.

There can be legal obstacles in any construction or development project. Often, the size and the amount of obstacles can increase with the size of the project. Large development projects can take years and years before groundbreaking even starts. The are many items that need to be addressed during a large project, including politics, permits, traffic concerns, zoning, zoning variances, and litigation.

Recently, legislative developments have changed an important aspect of real estate law in Pennsylvania. Last month, Governor Corbett signed a bill that prohibits many private transfer fees in real estate transactions.

When investing or developing commercial real estate in Philadelphia for the first time, many people are surprised at the complexity of the legal issues that are involved. From laws governing how transfers need to be recorded to adverse possession to title disputes, real estate law can be quite intricate.

When a company wants to tap into natural resources in the state of Pennsylvania, the company often finds itself dealing with a host of complex laws and regulations that they must comply with. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has a lot of input when it comes to developing natural resources, and businesses that want to build facilities such as oil wells, gas wells, pipelines and power plants will need to comply with the DEP’s rules. Failure to comply with these rules can result in severe penalties for businesses and business owners alike.