What does it mean when a town is unincorporated

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Video What does it mean when a town is unincorporated

If you’re looking for a new home, you may be able to find a place in an unincorporated community or city. but what does it even mean when a city is unincorporated? Is living in such an area the same as living anywhere else? Are there property tax implications? Here’s everything you need to know about moving to and living in an unincorporated community.

hash-markunderstanding what an unincorporated community is

In the United States, there are two main types of communities: incorporated and unincorporated. Incorporated communities are officially labeled and demarcated through a municipality, such as a city or town. unincorporated communities are not officially considered municipal areas by themselves. they often act as part of a larger municipality, such as a county or city.

unincorporated community hash-mark types

Most of the time, when someone thinks of an unincorporated community, they mean an isolated, unincorporated city. However, there are a couple of types of unincorporated communities in the United States. the following are examples of unincorporated communities:

communities outside any municipality- this is a phenomenon that usually occurs in extremely small rural communities, and is what many think of when they refer to unincorporated communities. means it has no official local government, although infrastructure may exist.
A Distinct Neighborhood: Some neighborhoods may be unincorporated communities within a larger community. These areas are typically on the outskirts of larger cities or may even be within the boundaries of several municipalities.
Defunct towns are now part of a larger town: Some of the most notable neighborhoods in large towns began as towns. when they became financially insolvent, the larger town incorporated them into its municipality.

hash-mark different levels of deembedding

Here’s the interesting thing about unincorporated areas: there are different degrees of them. In the Northeast, almost all communities and territories will belong to some municipality at one level or another. in other parts of the country, this is not the case.

In some parts of the country, communities may not have legal incorporation within a county or town. others simply do not have municipal government below the county level due to “strong county” laws that give counties the right to make laws normally reserved for cities.

unincorporated cities

Unincorporated towns are fully-fledged towns (or even small towns) that do not have their own local government. they tend to answer to the county, although they do not have their own elected officials. as a result, they are only subject to the laws of their county.

unincorporated areas or communities

An unincorporated community is an area that is either a neighborhood within a larger city or a completely uninhabited area. Unlike towns, these areas are generally not governed by neighboring towns under the same legal umbrella.

hash-markwhat does it mean to move to an unincorporated area?

This can vary from place to place, as well as the general level of onboarding you’re dealing with. each state has its own definition of what unincorporated means and how it will affect you. this can range from having little say in how your city is run to having difficulty getting to the post office. many do not notice any problems at all.

hash-markpros and cons of living in an unincorporated community

Although many people would never know the difference, there are some serious pros and cons to living in unincorporated areas. these include the following:

a big advantage is that you tend to gain more freedom. Many unincorporated places in Los Angeles resist the idea of incorporation for fear of losing their way of life. after all, city limits and laws can make it difficult to host larger parties. That said, you should still pay attention to your local zoning laws to make sure you’re not using your land for the wrong purposes.
The advantage of lower taxes is also commonly reported. small towns have the right to collect taxes and fees for city management purposes.
many people find that living in unincorporated areas means they have less legal bureaucracy. we’ve all heard of towns that had absurd levels of paperwork for just about any housing project. unincorporated communities don’t have that at the local level because there is no local government.
A major stumbling block is that you won’t have any local government to help you. If you want a local government to issue a marriage license or feel something could be better run, you’re out of luck in an unincorporated community.
Another big stumbling block could be the lack of infrastructure. while this is not always true, the unincorporated community (or area) you choose may not have the same level of infrastructure that a typical city might have. this is particularly common in rural areas.
Unfortunately, mail delivery can be confusing. Unincorporated communities can struggle with things like using the correct zip codes, using the correct city name, or even figuring out where you’re legally registered to vote. if you are not used to this topic, you should discuss it.
the biggest stumbling block is that you will have less say in the laws that are enacted in your area. everyone in an unincorporated community will still have to respond to county and state rules. if you hoped to have more of a say in laws in your neighborhood, your vote would count against people from other cities, many of whom might not have the same needs as yours. it is food for thought.

hash-mark is an unembedded community right for you?

Choosing to live in an unincorporated community isn’t exactly the easiest decision to make. There are many nuances to be aware of when it comes to legal compliance, not to mention the subtleties when it comes to the difference between the two types of communities.

The best thing you can do for yourself and your family is to ask questions. every unincorporated community will be different, as will cities. some are great places to live, while others are severely neglected by local government. As with any other aspect of buying a home, due diligence is a must.

When in doubt, you can always ask a real estate agent for advice, as their experience can prove invaluable and they will surely be happy to help.