Religious Land Use

church

Saul Ewing's First Amendment and Religious Land Use attorneys counsel private clients on all aspects of religious land use freedoms and protections, including application and enforcement of the First Amendment, the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), and the Florida Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), in addition to the protection and enforcement of other related Constitutional and civil rights.

Our services include:

  • Providing ongoing consultation and assistance with all aspects of land use planning in which religious assembly is an intended use
  • Representing private clients in the enforcement and protection of First Amendment and religious land use rights, as well as related Constitutional and civil rights

 

Key Contact
Franklin Zemel
View all related professionals
Experience

View a selection of our religious land use representations here.

  • A religious organization in obtaining a $2 million settlement for violations of the First Amendment and RLUIPA. 
  • A synagogue in obtaining a federal jury verdict determining that a city's ordinances collectively violated RLUIPA as well as the First Amendment by "unreasonably limiting" religious assembly. The jury awarded substantial monetary damages. 
  • A private condominium owner against a condominium association that sought to ban private prayer inside the condo unit, resulting in a settlement of $600,000 and permanent injunctive relief.
  • A religious organization in successfully obtaining a unanimous 5-0 vote from a town commission to reverse its earlier opposition to a re-zoning application permitting a place of worship in a residential zone.
  • A religious congregation in obtaining a unanimous decision re-zoning residential property for religious assembly use after demonstrating that the city's collection of ordinances violated the First Amendment and RLUIPA.
  • A client in obtaining permanent injunctive relief and substantial damages from a city that had banned private prayer in private homes. 
Related Insights See all related insights
City view with buildings