New Hampshire leans on property taxes for 59.5 percent of its state and local tax revenue, the highest share of any state in the country, the Tax Foundation reports. Current Use is the trade-off. It lets landowners pay tax on farmland, forest, or open space at a fraction of a subdivision’s price, as long as…
A Virginia REAL ID application takes five things: Proof of your identity, proof you’re legally allowed to be in the country, and proof of your Social Security number. Add two documents proving your Virginia address, plus proof of any legal name change. If you miss one, you’ll leave empty-handed. The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles…
One out of every two homes in Colorado carries radon levels above the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) action level, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). The tricky part is that radon has no smell or color. These are the radon findings that stall a Colorado home sale. Note: This…
Bayfield’s tourism office says this weekend marks the 64th annual Bayfield Apple Festival, and roadside stands across Wisconsin are stacking bushel baskets for the rush. But not every stand is legal. These are the reasons a Wisconsin farm stand gets shut down. Note: This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Farm stand licensing,…
Studded snow tires became legal on Montana roads again on October 1, under the state’s tire law. Many drivers haven’t swapped their tires yet. Tires are only one fall chore that gets put off even though Montana’s winter gets a head start on much of the country. These are the things some Montanans skip in…
Selling a car privately in South Carolina comes down to a short stack of paperwork: A signed title, a lien release, and the state’s bill of sale. South Carolina gives a buyer 45 days from the purchase date to title and register a newly bought vehicle, according to the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles. That…
Washington doesn’t have a single law that bans dumpster diving outright. That’s the good news. It’s also where many dumpster divers stop reading and get into trouble. These are the things Washington dumpster divers should know before they start. Note: This is general information, not legal advice. Washington’s trespass, theft, and waste laws are subject…
Nothing makes you notice a hometown habit faster than meeting someone who doesn’t share it. In Idaho, that person might have grown up just a few valleys away. Suddenly, something you’ve done your whole life needs an explanation you’ve never had to give. These are the Idaho habits that give away which valley someone grew…
North Carolina’s fall fire season typically runs from October through early December, according to the N.C. Forest Service. A permit doesn’t erase that risk. But some people treat a valid burn permit like a blank check for whatever’s piled up in their yard. These are the reasons a North Carolina burn permit doesn’t cover what…
Texas Penal Code Section 30.05 lets a coat of purple paint on a fence post carry the same legal weight as a posted “No Trespassing” sign. But the specs are strict. These are the purple-paint rules that replace a no-trespassing sign in Texas. Note: This is general information, not legal advice. Property and trespass laws…
