If you own farmland or ranch land in California, you have probably heard of the Williamson Act. It is the program that lets agricultural landowners cut their property tax bill in exchange for keeping their land in farming or open space. The trade can save a lot of money, but it also limits what you… Read more »
California has a housing shortage, and the state has built a set of tools to push local governments to allow more homes. One of the most talked-about tools is the builder’s remedy. For developers, it can be a way to get a project approved even when it does not match the local zoning. For cities… Read more »
NIMBY CEQA lawsuits California typically refer to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) challenges brought by neighborhood groups, community organizations, or individual residents opposing approved or pending development projects, especially housing. CEQA is codified under Public Resources Code Section 21000 et seq. It requires a lead agency, usually a city or county, to evaluate environmental impacts… Read more »
California is still dealing with a serious housing shortage. Cities have struggled to keep up with demand, and many projects get slowed down or blocked at the local level. SB 79 is part of the state’s response to that problem. Signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on October 10, 2025, SB 79, the Abundant and Affordable… Read more »
Historic preservation and housing development often come into conflict in California. Cities use historic rules to protect buildings and neighborhoods they view as culturally or architecturally significant, while developers focus on meeting housing demand in a state facing a long-standing shortage. In practice, that conflict shows up during project review. A historic designation, landmark finding,… Read more »
When a city or county denies a housing project, the developer can challenge that decision in court through a Writ of Administrative Mandate under Code of Civil Procedure § 1094.5. The court then reviews the agency record to determine whether the decision followed the law, used proper procedure, and had support in the evidence. In… Read more »
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 »
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 »
There are two fundamental sources of property rights protection in the Federal Constitution. The Fifth Amendment provides in part that private property shall not be taken for public use without just compensation. In addition, the due process clause requires that land use laws and regulations substantially advance legitimate governmental objectives. Land use lawyers recognize… Read more »
