Guides: Land Use Law Research Guide: Getting Started

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Introduction

This guide provides an introduction to land use law research in the United States, specifically land use regulation and zoning and planning law. Given the breadth and jurisdiction-specific nature of land use law, this guide is inherently selective. You can find other useful information in sources on environmental law, historic preservation, real estate and property law, and municipal law.

Getting Started

American Law of Zoning
Reviews the current state of zoning, planning, and subdivision control policy, Examines sources of zoning, legislative limitations, and legitimate objectives to zoning, Discusses regulations, constitutional issues, and judicial reviews of zoning and planning decisions. The author provides important caselaw updates and analysis of such developments as: Administrative relief from zoning regulations - special permits and variances, The power to zone - constitutional issues, Regulation of uses for profit - agriculture, commerce, and industry, Judicial review of zoning and planning decisions - appeal and certiorari.
Land Use Law in a Nutshell by Patricia Salkin; Jennie Nolon
This book reviews the common law principles that underpin modern land use regulations, including covenants and restrictions that work with government regulation to limit the use of private property.
Land Use Planning and Development Regulation Law
A hornbook that provides an introduction to "the fundamentals of land use planning and control law." The "practitioner" version of this book is available on Westlaw .
Rathkopf's The Law of Zoning and Planning
This five volume treatise extensivelu covers zoning law.