Historic preservation laws in many cities and states limit the right of a building owner to make changes to a building that would affect its historic character.
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The construction law attorneys at The McDonough Law Firm, L.L.P., handle a wide range of legal issues related to construction law, including insurance mediation and arbitration, surety and bonding issues, labor violations, code violations, delay claims, mechanics’ liens, tax liens, engineer and architect malpractice, and construction contract lawsuits. After reading more about the construction law issues in this information center, contact our lawyers to schedule a consultation.
Construction Law - An Overview
In recent years, the construction industry in the U.S. has seen unprecedented growth. Construction of both residential and commercial buildings has increased rapidly. With the rapid growth in the industry, however, has come a rapid growth in construction-related disputes. When you are faced with construction related legal issues, you need the assistance of an experienced attorney.
Construction Contracts
The construction contract is the essential document that sets out the rights and responsibilities of each party to the agreement. It is important that you read this document carefully, and that you understand all of it. The legal consequences may not be obvious, so it's important to have a lawyer review it with you. While some compromise may be necessary, you need to be certain that this truly is the agreement you want to make. If it is not, you should not sign the agreement unless the changes you want are made. You will be legally bound by this contract, and it is no defense to say that you didn't read it all the way through.
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Zoning and Land Use
Property owners are not entirely free to do whatever they want with their property. Most property is subject to governmental controls on the uses to which the property may be put. It is important that property owners are familiar with these restrictions before they attempt any major work on their property. An attorney who is knowledgeable in the real estate area, can advise you about the restrictions that may exist on your land.
Zoning
Zoning laws or ordinances are controls on what a property owner can do with his or her land. While the nature of zoning restrictions vary from city to city, the most common type of zoning law restricts certain types of businesses to certain areas, and will limit other areas to strictly residential uses. Some cities have very strict, and wide-ranging zoning laws: not only are certain areas limited to residential use, but homeowners must keep fences below a certain height, they may not keep certain pets, or they may not park certain vehicles on the street in front of their homes. In some extreme cases, the courts have held that zoning laws are so restrictive as to amount to a "taking" of the owner's property, allowing the owner to make a claim for compensation form the governmental authority that made the zoning law.
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Construction Disputes
Disputes between a contractor or a construction company and a customer are all too common. Disputes often arise out of delays in getting the work down, unsatisfactory work, or a customer's failure to make payments. Construction-related disputes can consume a lot of time and money on the part of everyone involved. In many cases, the expense involved in pursuing a dispute is far out of proportion to the money actually at stake. An attorney with experience in construction disputes can help you pursue your claim in an efficient, cost-effective manner.
Resolving Construction Disputes
Most construction contracts set out the manner in which disputes are to be resolved. Usually, those contracts call for use of a means other than litigation, such as arbitration or mediation, to resolve disputes.
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Hiring a Contractor
Hiring a contractor is something many, if not most, property or building owners will be faced with at some point. While some owners may want to do construction work themselves, for many, do-it-yourself is not a realistic option. Laws in many communities state that a licensed professional must do certain types of work, such as electrical installation. Most property owners will also conclude that they will, in the long run, save time and money by hiring a professional to do the work.
The relationship between a property owner and a contractor can work smoothly if both parties are willing to take the steps needed to do so. It can also be a contentious one. It can also work smoothly, if both parties are willing to take the steps needed to do so. An attorney with experience in construction law will help you do what is necessary to make sure things go according to plan.
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Construction Defects
The construction industry has experienced record growth in recent years. New construction sprang up in virtually every part of the country. Home construction, in particular, saw rapid growth: in 2004, construction of single-family homes nationwide hit an all-time high (for the third year in a row) of 1.714 million units. The rapid growth in construction was accompanied by a rapid growth in claims for construction defects, as homebuyers and other customers of the construction industry asserted complaints for faulty construction. An attorney with expertise in construction law can advise you about the best way to handle your claim for construction defects.
Causes of Construction Defects
Very few buildings are completed to absolute perfection, but not every variance in quality will be considered a defect by a court. The defects that are most often pursued are those that reduce the value of a building or that interfere with its use.
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This Construction Law Information Center is intended to provide general information only. It is not specific to your case. If you would like information about a particular issue, please contact The McDonough Law Firm, L.L.P.
