Land Use & Zoning

Government Clients

Our team of attorneys has experience:

• Writing and revising local land use and zoning ordinances.
• Advising in complex zoning and other land use and development matters, including comprehensive planning efforts.

• Evaluating proposed development projects and counseling clients on potential issues related to existing entitlements and applicable local, state, and federal regulations, as well as identification of legal, practical, and logistical problems that may arise during ministerial and legislative approval processes
• Analyzing and advising on circumstances involving the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act, Virginia Erosion and Stormwater Management Act, Virginia Open-Space Land Act, nonconformities, vested rights, and other state and local laws applying to the use and development of land
• Successfully trying land use and zoning matters before all levels of state trial and appellate courts across the Commonwealth, including before the Virginia Supreme Court, whether in pursuit of the enforcement of local and state laws or defense of local administrative or legislative actions.

• Advocating for zoning administrators and governing bodies before local boards of zoning appeals in all matters within their jurisdiction, including variances, notices of violations, interpretation of zoning ordinances, and special exceptions.
• Representing Chesapeake Bay Boards, Wetlands Boards, Boards of Zoning Appeal, and other local boards and commissions in the satisfaction of their statutory duties and decision-making authority.
• Advocating for local building officials and clients in administrative and judicial appeal proceedings.

• Working with the Virginia General Assembly, Department of Environmental Quality, Department of Conservation and Recreation, Department of Health, Department of Historic Resources, State Corporation Commission, and other regulatory agencies and commissions to pursue client goals.

• Leveraging easements and other conservation tools to effectively balance development and planning objectives.

Private Development Clients

Every development project necessitates extensive interaction with local government. Our municipal land use zoning attorneys have experience:

• Writing, revising, and advising on the zoning and land use ordinances used in local jurisdictions
• Advising on interpretation of zoning ordinances,
• Analyzing proposed land use development projects for potential issues related to existing entitlements and applicable local, state, and federal regulations, as well as identification of legal, practical, and logistical problems that may arise during ministerial and legislative approval processes
• Working with you to promote your project and effectively advance your ideas before planning staffs and governing bodies. We know and understand the concerns of local governments and how to effectively address them during rezonings, conditional use permits, special exceptions, plat and street vacations, and other land use applications to local boards and governing bodies
• Representing clients before local boards of zoning appeal, including in disputes regarding zoning ordinance interpretation
• Successfully trying land use and zoning matters before all levels of state trial and appellate courts across the Commonwealth, including before the Virginia Supreme Court
• Facilitating the effective subdivision of land and neighborhood development processes, including working with municipalities to ensure their understanding and thorough review of client applications, and the drafting of subdivision performance agreements, deeds of easement for open space and maintenance of common areas, boundary line adjustments, maintenance bonds, and all other required documents
• Leveraging easements and other conservation tools to effectively promote property development, while understanding how such easements can limit the extent and nature of development while also considering their impact on clients’ other property rights
• Working with the Virginia General Assembly, Department of Environmental Quality, Department of Conservation and Recreation, Department of Health, Department of Historic Resources, State Corporation Commission, and other regulatory agencies and commissions to pursue client goals