Real Estate Developer Rights When Cities Demand Too Much
How To Be A Project Advocate By Diffusing Adjacent Neighbor Tensions
Impact fee increases are on the horizon for development in the City of Apopka. On Wednesday, November 19, 2025, the City of Apopka presented, for the second time, a proposal to increase municipal impact fees during an...more
Few legislative changes in California have become more predictable than the Legislature’s annual revisions to the laws governing accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and junior accessory dwelling units (JADUs). Recent examples of...more
In an effort to spur prompt rehabilitation of Pacific Palisades' commercial sector post-fire, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has enacted Emergency Executive Order 10 (EO10), a decree set to accelerate the authorization process...more
The Building Safety Levy ("BSL") will be a charge on most new residential developments in England, payable by the developer prior to completion of the works, collected by local authorities and transferred to central...more
Monday, Oct. 13 marked the final day for Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign bills passed during this legislative session by California’s Senate and Assembly. Below is a round-up of key housing-related bills signed by the governor,...more
A developer’s plan to transform a former monastery into a 77-unit apartment complex has been put on hold — not because of the concept, but because of a flawed zoning approval process. In DiDonato v. Ross Township Zoning...more
Effective October 23, 2025, Seattle will make it easier for businesses and developers to occupy a vacant storefront. The City has amended its building code to ease renovation rules that govern when a building must be updated...more
Commercial space across New Jersey continues to be snapped up and developed at a rapid pace. From large-scale warehouse facilities to mixed-use hubs that combine retail, office, and residential space, developers are seizing...more
On Sept. 9, 2025, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors adopted a wide-ranging housing initiative aimed at strengthening the county’s economic competitiveness and addressing regional housing challenges....more
Pennsylvania’s statute of repose, enacted in 1976, has long provided construction industry participants with finality by barring claims related to construction defects raised more than 12 years after the completion of...more
Florida law provides a framework for code enforcement, but each local jurisdiction—counties, cities, and towns—can adopt its own procedures. This guide outlines the general process, but property owners should always consult...more
Mayor Eric Adams and the New York City Council are continuing to pursue their goal to “Get Sheds Down.” The Get Sheds Down initiative was originally announced in July 2023 to overhaul the sections of the New York City...more
This is the eighth update in our series covering AB 130 and SB 131, two bills that work substantive changes to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and California housing law....more
In the last legislative session, the Philadelphia City Council passed several significant bills affecting real estate development and zoning, which are important for property owners and developers to understand....more
On May 12, 2025, the Honourable Rob Flack, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing (Minister), introduced Bill 17—the Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act, 2025 (Bill 17). On June 5, 2025, Bill 17 received...more
In recent weeks, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has issued executive orders extending two separate emergency declarations for counties in North Florida following a series of tornadoes that caused severe damage in the region....more
The government has announced changes to the Building Safety Regulator, aimed at tackling current delays to the approvals process. Building Safety Regulator - Delays The Building Safety Act (BSA) created a new Building Safety...more
The FDA began integration of generative AI across all its centers, a project that should be completed by the end of June. Newly appointed chief AI officer, Jeremy Walsh, and Office of Strategic Programs at CDER, Sridhar...more
Developing land on Long Island can present a number of challenges that all developers should be aware of. From complex zoning ordinances to state environmental regulations, there is no shortage of obstacles that may delay a...more
Various state housing bills are currently making their way through the California State Legislature that are expected to benefit mixed-income multifamily housing developers. The following summaries reflect the status of the...more
For property owners in California’s coastal zone hoping to rebuild after the wildfires in the Los Angeles area, including the Pacific Palisades and Malibu, obtaining building permits from their local government may not be...more
SB 684 and SB 1123 (Caballero) expand the Starter Home Revitalization Act to further facilitate the construction of “starter” home projects consisting of up to 10 dwelling units (not exceeding an average of 1,750 net...more
Those familiar with construction in Massachusetts know all too well the numerous types of building permits, approvals, orders of conditions, and the like that may be required to proceed with construction work on a given...more
Last week, in an important decision for land-use and development lawyers, the Massachusetts Appeals Court ruled in Palmer Renewable Energy, LLC v. Zoning Bd. of Appeals of Springfield that permit extensions granted by the...more
On April 14, 2025, Mayor Mike Johnston signed Executive Order 151 to create a new Denver Permitting Office (“DPO”) which is to begin reviewing development and construction permit applications in mid-May. The Executive Order...more