What is a Grandfather Clause? (with picture)

Sometimes a new city ordinance or building code change will immediately cause hundreds of older buildings to be in violation. Rather than penalize the buildings' owners, the government will insert a grandfather clause into the language of the new regulation. A grandfather clause is an exemption which allows current businesses or property owners to continue operating under the previous laws. A historic restaurant may be exempt from modern sprinkler laws, for example, because the retrofitting would be too expensive or difficult. A new restaurant built next door, however, would be required to meet the current fire safety codes.





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Neal Paskvan is a full time Realtor specializing in Downers grove, Darien,Woodridge, Westmont and Du page county Real Estate