Posts Categorized: Land Use Law

Builder’s Remedy California 2026: Housing Element Compliance Update

Land use attorneys in Sacramento, CA and Los Angeles, CA

California’s housing shortage has pushed Builder’s Remedy California 2026 into active use across development disputes. What was once a rarely discussed provision in planning law now plays a direct role in how cities review housing projects. If you own land in California, plan to develop property, or are dealing with a city’s housing element decisions,… Read more »

Eminent Domain vs Inverse Condemnation in California: What’s The Difference

Land use attorneys in Sacramento, CA and Los Angeles, CA

When a California government agency takes your property or damages it without following proper procedures, you have constitutional rights. Many property owners do not realize there are two different legal paths to challenge what happened: eminent domain and inverse condemnation. The difference between eminent domain vs inverse condemnation California property owners encounter can determine whether… Read more »

Can Cities Make Developers Pay for Lawsuits?

Land use attorneys in Sacramento, CA and Los Angeles, CA

Developers in California often encounter a common condition during project approvals. Before moving forward, the city requires them to sign an indemnity agreement. If someone files a lawsuit to challenge the project, the developer must defend the city and cover legal costs. At first glance, this may seem like a routine requirement. In practice, however,… Read more »

How AB 130 Affects CEQA Review for Housing Projects in California

Land use attorneys in Sacramento, CA and Los Angeles, CA

Housing developers in California often face one major obstacle before a project can move forward. Environmental review under CEQA can delay approvals, increase costs, and expose projects to legal challenges. Under AB 130 CEQA, the state has introduced changes aimed at reducing delays for certain housing projects. While the law does not eliminate environmental review,… Read more »

Resolving Zoning Conflicts in California: What SB 786 Means for Developers

Land use attorneys in Sacramento, CA and Los Angeles, CA

Developers across California often face a frustrating situation. A project complies with zoning rules, yet the city still denies approval. In many cases, the denial points to a supposed conflict with the general plan. This creates uncertainty, delays, and added costs. Zoning conflicts in California frequently arise when cities rely on broad or outdated general… Read more »

Los Angeles Adaptive Reuse Law: Converting Office Space to Housing

Land use attorneys in Sacramento, CA and Los Angeles, CA

Office vacancies remain high across Los Angeles, while the demand for housing continues to grow. In response, the city has expanded its Adaptive Reuse Ordinance in 2026 to make it easier to convert older commercial buildings into residential units. This shift gives property owners and developers a faster path to bring housing to market without… Read more »

ADUs in the California Coastal Zone: What AB 462 Means for Property Owners

Land use attorneys in Sacramento, CA and Los Angeles, CA

Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) have become one of California’s most important housing solutions. The new California Coastal Zone ADU rules under AB 462 aim to make it easier for property owners to build ADUs in coastal communities while still respecting coastal protection policies. For homeowners, understanding how these rules apply inside the coastal zone is essential… Read more »

SB 808 Housing Accountability Act and Illegal Housing Denials

Land use attorneys in Sacramento, CA and Los Angeles, CA

California lawmakers have tightened enforcement tools against cities that block housing projects in violation of state law. For developers and property owners, that shift matters. If a city denies or conditions a housing project illegally, you now have a faster path to court and meaningful financial consequences if the city refuses to comply. Two laws… Read more »

How AB 253 and AB 301 Force Permit Approvals

Land use attorneys in Sacramento, CA and Los Angeles, CA

California’s housing shortage has pushed the Legislature to change permit laws that affect property owners and developers. Two new laws taking effect in 2026 – AB 253 and AB 301 – create stricter timelines for government reviews of housing permits. These laws aim to reduce bureaucratic delays that have slowed construction and added costs to housing projects…. Read more »

Property Rights Lawyer Tim Kassouni Sends Letter to Association of Bay Area Governments and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission

On May 15th, the Sacramento Land Use Lawyers at Kassouni Law sent a letter to the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) on behalf of Freedom Advocates and the Post Sustainability Institute, both of which are non-profit organizations dedicated to the preservation of private property rights, consistent with the Fifth and… Read more »