Licensing
Do you need to obtain the necessary local, state, or federal permits to operate your business?
Zoning
Cities use zoning laws to dictate where and how businesses can operate. Do you need help with conditional uses or parking issues variances?
Lease Negotiations and Review
Are you renting or leasing real estate? If you need a Lease Agreement or want to discuss those terms, reach out to our team.
What types of permits and licenses are necessary for my business?
Unfortunately, it’s very hard to predict exactly the types of permits and licenses your business will require. The requirements for your business will depend on the type of business you own and the industry you’re in.
However, because virtually all businesses need licenses of some sort, here are a few of the most common ones you might need to be aware of in Louisiana:
- City business licenses/tax permits
- Building or construction permits
- Health permits
- Environmental permits
- Occupational permits
- Occupational or professional licenses
- Sign permits
- Zoning permits
- Alcohol & tobacco permits
- Liquor licenses
- Sales and use tax permits
- City business licenses/tax permits
- Building or construction permits
- Health permits
- Environmental permits
- Occupational permits
- Occupational or professional licenses
- Sign permits
- Zoning permits
- Alcohol & tobacco permits
- Liquor licenses
- Sales and use tax permits
When you work with our team at Spera Law Group, we’ll sit down with you and determine exactly what you need for your business to be legally compliant.
What are zoning laws?
The purpose of land use and zoning laws is to divide a city or region into residential, commercial, and industrial zones/districts to regulate the use of property in each one.
For example, one commercial zone might only permit certain commercial or industrial businesses in one jurisdiction, but another zone might allow a mix of housing and businesses.
Zoning laws can also regulate dimensional requirements on property, as well as the density of development, and whether you can have certain animals in that zone. More detailed zoning restrictions lay out plans for hospitals, parks, schools, etc. and regulations on natural resources.
What zoning laws will my business need to follow?
The most important thing you need to know about zoning for your business is what zone you plan your business to be in.
Some other important municipal and federal zoning laws to be aware of include:
- Parking requirements
- Types of commercial enterprise allowed (manufacturing, retail, restaurants, etc.)
- Types and sizes of buildings allowed and internal requirements
- Health and safety regulations
- Signage requirements
- Floor to area ratios
- Accessibility requirements
How can you help me with zoning requirements?
As your Land Use and Zoning Attorney, our job is to advise you in regards to real estate development, zoning laws, building ordinances, construction permits, etc. We will ensure that you have all the proper permits and licenses you need at the proper times, working with other companies and courts as necessary.
Having a zoning attorney on your side is also helpful in the case of a land use or restriction dispute. Oftentimes the solution is just a matter of a small change to be filed in court, but it’s important to use an attorney in these situations to ensure all the paperwork is properly filed.
Why do I need an attorney for lease negotiations?
Even experienced negotiators could use a second pair of eyes on a lease for real estate agreements. In fact, it’s safer for both parties to involve legal help to ensure that the agreement covers all necessary items and protects everyone’s interests.
Attorneys can help with any and all of the following:
- Researching comparable property values
- Serving as your spokesperson at bargaining sessions
- Drafting letters of intent and/or rewriting the one the landlord prepares
- Ensuring your legal interests and tenant rights are protected
When should I get a lawyer involved in the real estate negotiations?
We recommend getting an attorney on your side for the negotiations in the earliest stage possible. That way, we can get a full understanding of your wishes and needs for your business from the get-go and work towards those goals throughout the entire process.
If you come to us after you’ve already signed a bad lease, for example, it’s much more difficult to mitigate the damage than it would have been for us to prevent it on the front end.
”“I retained Andrew for guidance on a small business/real estate matter regulated by the city government and affected by changing political winds in New Orleans. He provided spot-on legal, regulatory and political guidance which prevented me from making bad investments, and got me focused instead on future business opportunities that would actually pan out a little farther down the time horizon. I intend to use Andrew in future legal/business endeavors.”
Schedule your consultation with Spera Law today
Whether your business is 30 years old or 30 days old, you want to make sure you’re following all of the proper licensing requirements and zoning regulations in your city. You also want to make sure your real estate is the best you can bang for your buck. That’s where we come in. Schedule your free consultation with Spera Law Group today.
How we work with our clients:
- Providing predictable flat monthly fees
- Advising on specific legal issues OR through general consultation and guidance over time
- Eliminating the uncertainty of cost
- Systematically updating you on a regular basis
- Switching from legal issues reactions to legal problem prevention
