Land Use, Planning, and Zoning Law Resource Guide
Introduction
Besides zoning and planning materials, you may want to look at materials dealing with property law in general, environmental law, fair housing, municipal and local government law. See these related guides: Property Law, Environmental Law , Ohio Local Government Law Resource Guide
Zoning codes are typically established by municipal or township ordinances. State and federal statutes and regulations affect planning and land use, for example, environmental statutes and regulations and eminent domain statutes.
Looking for a paper topic? Look at the Current Awareness part of this guide to discover hot issues in planning and zoning.
Major Treatises and Practice Guides
| Multivolume Sets | One Volume Treatises | Related Topics - Multivolume |
American Law of Zoning, 5th ed. / Patricia E. Salkin / 2008 -current . 5 vols. KF 5698 .A76, (Westlaw - AMLZONING)
Rathkopf's The Law of Zoning and Planning, 4th ed. / Arden H. Rathkopf and Daren A. Rathkopf / 1975 -current, 5-vol. KF 5698 .R37 (Westlaw - RLZPN)
American Land Planning Law / Norman Williams, Jr. and John M. Taylor /1974 -current KF 5698 .W54 (Westlaw - ALPLAW)
Handling the Land Use Case: Land Use Law, Practice & Forms, 3rd ed. / John J. Delaney, Stanley D. Abrams, Frank Schnidman / 2005 -date. 3 vols., KF 5698 .D45 (Westlaw - LANDUSELAW)
Zoning and Land Use Controls, Patrick J. Rohan, 1977-date, 10 vol. KF5698 .R65 (Lexis ZLANDU)
Zoning Law and Practice, E.C. Yokley, current. 8 vol. (Lexis -ZONLP )
Subdivision Law and Growth Management, 2nd ed. / James A. Kushner / 2001 -current. 2 vols. KF 5698 .K872 (Westlaw - SUBLAWG)
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Land Use Law 5th ed., Daniel R. Mandelker,2003-date, KF5692.A4 M3 2003, ( Lexis LNDLAW)
Land Use Planning and Development Regulation Law 2d ed., Julian Conrad Juergensmeyer & Thomas E. Roberts,2007 KF5692 .J845
Federal Land Use Law & Litigation / Brian W. Blaesser, Alan C. Weinstein, and Daniel R. Mandelker 2005 - current (annual) . KF 5698 .F43 (Westlaw - FEDLANDLAW) - Constitutional issues, antitrust, federal statutes, discrimination.
Land Use Planning and Development Regulation Law, 2nd ed. / Julian Conrad Juergensmeyer and Thomas E. Roberts (Hornbook) KF 5692 .J845 2007 (Westlaw LUPDRL)
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Chapters in MultiVolume Treatises on Related Topics
McQuillan: The Law of Municipal Corporations, 3rd ed. , 1949 - current . KF 5305 .M33, esp. Ch 25, Zoning and Ch. 32, Eminent Domain. (Westlaw - MUNICORP, also MUNICORP-ZONPL)
Local Government Law / C. Dallas Sands and Michael E. Libonati / Callaghan, 1981 - current . 4 vols. KF 5300 .S26, esp. Ch. 16, Land Development Regulation. Ch. 17, Streets & Public Ways, Ch. 21 Property. (Westlaw - LOCGOVTLAW)
Powell on Real Property,Patrick J. Rohan ed., 1977-current, KF570 .P6 (Lexis - POWELL) - esp. Ch. 79A-79G
Thompson on Real Property, David A. Thomas ed., 1st/2d eds. 1994-current, KF570 .T46 (Lexis - TORPTE) , esp. CH 74 (land use regulations), 80 (eminent domain)
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For more, try:
- Lexis: Legal>Area of Law-By Topic>Real Estate> By Subtopic>Zoning and Land Use
- Westlaw Directory: All Databases>Topical Practice Areas >Real Property>Legal Periodicals, Texts and Practice Materials - search for the words zoning, planning,
- Lexis (Find a Source) & Westlaw(Search for a database) - search for the word zoning or planning, maybe adding name of jurisdiction (Ohio, California, etc.)
- Westlaw - add a tab - Planning and Zoning
- Lexis - add a tab for Real Estate
- Westlaw: Land Use and Zoning Texts and Forms Combined (ZONPL-TEXTS)
- For planning and zoning materials, browse the shelf at call number KF5697-5730, Atrium, A066 and Reference areas; KFO458 (Ohio), Reference and Ohio Room. Some call numbers for other related topics: Real Property - KF560-698; KFO112-140; Municipal Law - KF5300, KFO430; Environmental Law - KF3775, KFO354, HT - Social Science, urban and regional planning, HD108 - Social Science, land use
- Search the library catalog for keywords. Alternatively, do a subject search for Land Use – Law and Legislation – United States. Other subject headings include:
Specific Topics
| Adult Businesses | Eminent Domain | Environment | Urban Planning |
Local Regulation of Adult Businesses, 1992 - current Annual. KF 5699 .L62 (Westlaw - ADULTBUS)
Federal Land Use Law & Litigation / Brian W. Blaesser, Alan C. Weinstein, and Daniel R. Mandelker 2005 - (2009 Update) Annual. KF 5698 .F43 (Westlaw - FEDLANDLAW) - Constitutional issues, antitrust, federal statutes, discrimination.
Nichols on Eminent Domain, 3d ed., Julius L. Sackman et al., 1964-date, ( Lexis - NEMDOM)
Regulatory Takings, 4th ed., Steven J. Eagle, 2009-current KF 5698 .E18 (Lexis - REGTAK)
Environmental Land Use Planning
Environmental Land Use Planning and Management / John Randolph / Island Press, 2004. HD 108.3 .R36 2004
Nature-Friendly Ordinances: Local Measures to Conserve Biodiversity / James M. McElfish Jr. / Environmental Law Institute, 2004. HD 108.3 .M35 2004
The Endangered Species Act: Law, Policy, and Perspectives / Donald C. Baur and William Robert Irvin / Chicago: Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources, American Bar Association, 2002. KF 5640 .A315 E53 2002
Wetlands Law and Policy: Understanding Section 404 / Kim Diana Connolly, et al. / Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources, American Bar Association, 2005. KF 5624 .W55 2005
Urban Planning/Affordable Housing
The Legal Guide to Affordable Housing Development / Rochelle E. Lento and Tim Iglesias eds. / American Bar Association, 2005. KF 5729 .L44 2005
Redevelopment: Planning, Law & Project Implementation, A Guide for Practitioners / Brian Blaesser & Thomas cody eds. /American Bar Association, 2008. KF 5730 .R43 2008
Urban Economics and Land Use in America: The Transformation of Cities in the Twentieth Century / Alan Rabinowitz / M.E. Sharpe, 2004. HT 1230 .R22 2004
Small Town America in an Era of Big Box Development / Vermont Journal of Environmental Law 2005 Symposium / Vermont Law School, 2005. HT 392 .V47 2005
Ohio Treatises and Practice Guides
Ohio Planning and Zoning Law 1997 -current (annual) , KFO 458 .M42 (Westlaw - OHPLZL)
Local Government Law -- Municipal / John E. Gotherman, Harold W. Babbit, and James F. Lang / 2004 - current. 2 vols. KFO 431 .A6 G67 (Westlaw - OHMUNL) - esp. Ch 18 Eminent Domain, Ch 25 Platting, Planning & Zoning, Ch 26 - Public Housing and Urban Renewal
Local Government Law -- Township / Rebecca C. Princehorn / 2004 - . KFO 430 .A3 2004 (Westlaw - OHTWPL) esp. Ch 30 & 31 re. zoning, Ch. 43 re. housing projects.
Ohio Real Estate Law, 3rd ed. / Kenton L. Kuehnle with Jack S. Levey (Baldwin's Ohio Practice) / 2003 - 3 vols. KFO 112 .H362 (Westlaw - OHRELP ) - esp. Ch. 54 Appropriations (Eminent Domain)
Ohio Real Property Law and Practice, 5th ed. / Robert M. Curry and James Geoffrey Durham / 1996 -current, KFO 112 .M32 1996 (LexisNexis - OHRPLP ), esp. Ch 23, zoning, Ch 24 & 2700, platting, subdivision and dedication, Ch 26 & 1200, Eminent Domain, Ch 27 Environmental Regulation
Finley's Ohio Municipal Service / Cleveland: West Group, 2003 -current KFO 431.A6 G67 - current awareness. articles and case summaries.
Study Aids
- Coastal and Ocean Management Law in a Nutshell KF 5627 .Z9 C48 2007
- Local Government Law in a Nutshell KF 5300 .Z9 M3 2003
- Modern Public Land Law in a Nutshell KF 5605 .G58 2006
- Land Use in a Nutshell KF5698.Z9 W74 2006
- Water Law in a Nutshell KF5569.3 .G48 2009
- Understanding the Law of Zoning and Land Use Controls KF5698 .B87 2009
Model Statutes, Regulations, Ordinances & Codes
A Model Land Development Code: Complete Text, Adopted by the American Law Institute at Washington, D.C., May 21, 1975, and Reporters' Commentary / Philadelphia: The Institute, 1976. KF 5697 .A441
Model Subdivision Regulations: Planning and Law: A Complete Ordinance and Annotated Guide to Planning Practice and Legal Requirements, 2nd ed. / Robert H. Freilich and Michael M. Schultz /Planners Press, American Planning Association, 1995. KF 5698 .F7 1995
Growing Smart Legislative Guidebook: Model Statutes for Planning and the Management of Change / Chicago: Growing Smart Program of the American Planning Association, 2002. 2 vols. and User Manual. KF 5692.Z9 G76 2002
Municipal Ordinances: Text and Forms, 2nd ed. / Thomas A. Matthews and Byron S. Matthews /1972-date Multi-volume set. KF 5313 .M3 (Westlaw - MUNIORD)
Suggested State Legislation / Council of State Governments, 1941 - current KF 165 .C68 .
Zoning and Land Use Controls, Patrick J. Rohan, 1977-date, 10 vol. KF5698 .R65 (Lexis ZLANDU), Ch. 53, 53B, 53C.
Statutes/Codes
Find sources for statutes and codes (other than Lexis and Westlaw) via Statutes / Constitutions - Legal Research on the Web. For example, State and Federal statutes and codes are accessible via LexisNexis Academic.
Ohio:
Ohio Revised Code - particularly, Title 3 (Counties), Title 5 (Townships) and Title 7 (Municipalities), Title 53 (Real Property) . Ohio Revised Code is also on Lexis, Westlaw and LexisNexis Academic as well as in print
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Other States:
For summaries of each state's laws see Zoning and Land Use Controls, Patrick J. Rohan KF5698 .R65 (Lexis ZLANDU), ch. 53A.
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U.S. (Federal):
Several Constitutional rights affect zoning and planning, such as substantive and procedural due process, equal protection and first amendment rights. Federal statutes can affect zoning and planning as well, such as environmental and discrimination laws. See Federal Land Use Law & Litigation / Brian W. Blaesser, Alan C. Weinstein, and Daniel R. Mandelker 2005 - (2009 Update) Annual. KF 5698 .F43 (Westlaw - FEDLANDLAW).
U.S. Code available on Lexis, Westlaw and LexisNexis Academic as well as in print
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Zoning codes are typically enacted at the municipal or township level. To find ordinances, go to Legal Research on the Web - Municipal Ordinances
Administrative Regulations & Decisions
To find regulations, see the Administrative Law Reseach Guide and/or Ohio Administrative Code & Rulemaking Procedure
For information on Administrative Decisions, see Administrative Law Reseach Guide and/or Ohio Administrative Decisions & Executive Orders. Planning and zoning issues are usually first decided by a local planning commission or zoning commission. In Ohio, a Board of Zoning Appeals (county, township or municipal) hears appeals from these administrative determinations. These administrative decisions are not readily available.
Once all administrative remedies are exhausted, the case can be appealed to an Ohio common pleas court. The case may be brought before a federal court instead, if federal issues are involved.
Case Law
To find zoning and planning cases (mostly appellate), search a database specific to your jurisdiction on Lexis, Westlaw, LexisNexis Academic as well as in print or other source. Don't forget that planning and zoning cases may be filed in federal court if there is a federal issue.
Journal Articles
See Finding Articles in Law Reviews, Journals and Other Legal Periodicals.
Law students will want to look at the indexes and full text databases on Lexis and Westlaw, linked in the above guide. HeinOnline provides law review articles older than what is available on Lexis and Westlaw.
For non-law students, LexisNexis Academic, HeinOnline and Legal Collection are good bets for full text searching, and Wilsonweb's ILP/ILP Retrospective is an index available in the law library.
Journals and Law Reviews specializing in urban law, local government law, public policy or environmental law are usually good bets. For example, Cornell Journal of Law and Public Policy, Fordham Urban Law Journal, Stanford Environmental Law Journal, State and Local Government Review, Urban Lawyer.
Current Awareness
Lexis - Area of Law by Topic>Real Estate>Emerging Issues
Westlaw Topical Highlights - Real Property ( WTH-RP ) - Documents prepared by the West editorial staff that summarize recent developments in real property law.
Zoning and Planning Law Handbook /West, 1981 - Annual. KF 5698 .Z6 - Opens with a survey of recent developments in zoning and land use law, including Supreme Court and lower court decisions and legislative and administrative activity. Expert analysis of trends and developments.
U.S. Law Week/Supreme Court Today (BNA) - Reports on new federal and state cases that set precedents. Use the advanced search. Select "topic" from the Choose a Field pull down menu, and enter "zoning" into the adjacent search box. Or, when you first log in, click on "See All Recent Topics"
Newsletters
Planning & Environmental Law (formerly Land Use Law & Zoning Digest) / American Planning Association. (Westlaw - PEL) - summaries of new cases, commentary. ( Land Use Digest / Washington, D.C.: Urban Land Institute, Vol. 1 - (Nov. 1968) - Vol. 29 (June 1996.: HD 7285 .L36)
Real Estate/ Environmental Liability News / Buraff Publications. Biweekly report on litigation, regulation & industry practice. (via LexisNexis Academic 1995 - , Lexis - REELNS)
Zoning and Planning Law Report / vol. 1 - current KF 5697 .A15 Z66 Monthly newsletter. (Westlaw - ZPLR)
Zoning Practice / American Planning Assn., 2004 - current, Continues Zoning News. HT 169.7 .Z66
Housing and Development Reporter- HDR Current Developments. 1999-current. Summarizes new legislation and court decisions. (Westlaw- HDRCURDEV ) KF5729.A1 H682
Finley's Ohio Municipal Service / Cleveland: West Group, 2003 -current KFO 431.A6 G67 Articles and case summaries.
Blogs
Multidisciplinary Databases
- Main Library's Urban Studies, Political Science and Environmental Studies Subject Portals. Look under research databases
- Ohiolink Political Science and Social Sciences databases.
- Urban Studies Abstracts - indexes J. American Planning Assoc and more.
- A few full text databases: Academic Search Complete, Social Sciences Full Text
- Particular journals: Journal of the American Planning Association, Journal of Land Use Science, Journal of Regional Sciences, Land Use Policy, Urban Policy and Research, URISA Journal.
- Planning Research Guide - Humboldt State University Library
Web Resources
FindLaw > Legal Subjects > Property Law
Legal Information Institute: Law About... Real Property (land law): an overview
Housing Advocates, Inc. - Land Use & Zoning
Basic Legal Research for Land Use
MR 6/29/2007; Revised SA 12/2009