Religious Land Use and Zoning Leaders

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Religious Land Use and Zoning Blogs

Churches and other religious institutions are protected from discrimination by municipalities and other local government bodies by the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, better known as RLUIPA. This blog by the national leaders in religious land use and zoning law highlights RLUIPA case studies and includes commentary on related news for church leaders and others throughout the country, as well as explanations of components of the RLUIPA law.

Court Enters Judgment and Adds to Major Attorney Fee Award in RLUIPA Case Against Borough of Litchfield, CT

On March 31, 2020, the United States District Court of Connecticut issued a ruling which added nearly $100,000 in attorneys’ fees, costs and interest to an existing fee award of over $700,000 against the Borough of Litchfield, CT. By way of background, Dalton & Tomich […]

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How Religious Groups May Use Their Facilities to Help the Homeless During the Pandemic

An increasing number of state and local governments are issuing “shelter-in-place” or “stay-at-home” orders. But what does that mean for those who have no shelter or home in which to stay? The homeless so often depend on shelters that are already at capacity, making social […]

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Federal Court Denies Government’s Attempt to Dismiss Church’s RLUIPA Lawsuit

A federal court sided with a church that wants to build a bigger facility in Prince George County, Maryland (the “County”). After purchasing four parcels, the church was confronted with a two-step development process. Step One – Where the Church Faced Denial: The first step […]

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Interesting Land Use Provisions of the Illinois Religious Corporation Act

In Illinois, there is a very old and little-known law called the Religious Corporation Act of 1872 (805 ILCS 110 et seq.). The Act is still on the books and affords religious congregations an alternative way of incorporating. If a congregation does not want to […]

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Quick RLUIPA Win in New York: Consent Decree Frees Mount Zion Ministries Church to Locate in Whitestown

The only thing better than a win is a quick win. Case in point, just over a week after we filed suit on behalf of Mount Zion Ministries Church (also operating as Redeemer Church), we were able to obtain an order protecting the church’s right […]

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How a Pending Supreme Court Case and the Growing School Choice Movement Could Lead to More Religious Land Use Cases

This week is National School Choice Week. And coincidentally, just last week the United States Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a key school choice case with significant religious liberty concerns. The case, Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, involves a scholarship program that provides […]

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Addressing Homeless Ministries through RLUIPA: Shawnee Mission Unitarian Universalist Church v. The City of Lenexa, Kansas

Shawnee Mission Unitarian Universalist Church (“Shawnee Mission Church” or “Church”) has a long and proud history of ministering to the poorest and most vulnerable populations of Lenexa, Kansas and the greater Johnson County area. Over the last several years, the Church has advanced their ministry […]

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When Should We Get a Religious Land Use Lawyer Involved?

  • December 11, 2019
  • by Noel Sterett
  • Category: RLUIPA

Churches, mosques, temples, synagogues and other religious institutions can often resolve religious land use and zoning matters without having to file a lawsuit or set foot in a courtroom. This is especially true when a religious land use and zoning attorney is involved early on. […]

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Why We Fight for Religious Liberty

I just read attorney Luke Goodrich’s excellent new book entitled Free to Believe:  The Battle Over Religious Liberty in America. Because we have the privilege at Dalton & Tomich of being on the front lines of that battle, I read the book with great interest. […]

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What Types of Religious Organizations Does RLUIPA Protect?

  • December 9, 2019
  • by Noel Sterett
  • Category: RLUIPA

Attorney Noel Sterett has had the privilege of helping all types of religious organizations across the country with their zoning and land use matters. In that time, he has discovered that many houses of worship and other religious entities are not aware of the rights […]

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Dalton & Tomich, PLC is the national leader in successfully helping churches, other religious institutions and their insurers defend their rights in land use and zoning matters under RLUIPA, the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act. We have helped clients win cases against municipalities and other local government bodies from coast to coast, with experience serving both as general counsel and special litigation counsel.