Dealing with regulations set forth by a city or county can be difficult at times for business owners. Even if they want to abide by the law and operate as they are expected, some business owners may feel that certain regulations should not apply or that they are placing an undue burden on the company. As a result, owners may choose to dispute the necessity of some business requirements or attempt to change their zoning restrictions. One business in another state is attempting to do that through legal action.
Minnesota readers may be interested in this dispute as it involves a horseback riding business and the county in which the business operates. The owners of the equestrian center believe that the 14-acre operation should be designated as agricultural and exempt from certain business-related regulations. The land is already zoned for agricultural uses, and the owners obtained a permit to allow the horseback riding business.
Since the center operates as a business, the county wants the owners to comply with commercial property requirements, which include the following examples:
- ADA compliant restrooms and water fountains
- A paved parking area
- The construction of a barn that meets commercial codes
The owner believes that these requirements place a costly burden on the equestrian center and requested that the property be exempt and considered solely agricultural. However, the county did not agree. As a result, the owner is moving forward with appeals in hopes of reaching a favorable outcome.
Trying to run a business and meet the regulations set forth by local government can seem impossible at times. If Minnesota business owners believe that they are being subjected to unfair business requirements or restrictions, they may want to determine whether they have options for combatting these obligations. In some cases, that may mean filing a lawsuit, but it depends wholly on the specific circumstances.