Land Use

Before the first shovel of dirt is turned for a new project, developers must find their way through a maze of permits, hearings and environmental impact statements. And they must comply with a slew of sometimes conflicting federal, state and regional land use, real estate, natural resource and environmental regulations. Failure to comply can result in substantial fines or other penalties.

Another problem is increasingly assertive opponents who have become quite creative in devising new ways to bog down projects in administrative proceedings and litigation. When these opponents cause a project's backers to lose control of the land use process, the result can be lengthy delays and the imposition of obligations or limitations that significantly drive up project costs.

Perkins Coie's Land Use practice is the strongest in the Northwest. Our land use attorneys are complemented by attorneys specializing in environmental law, North American law, and real estate and commercial law. Many of these attorneys once worked in government agencies, including the U.S. Department of Interior and state agencies involved with land use.

We advise businesses on planning, development and permitting strategies, and help them prepare and defend environmental impact statements and reports under federal and state law. We represent them before hearing examiners, planning commissions, city and county councils, administrative hearing boards, and in court. In addition to our new development work, we counsel clients on the land use aspects of land leases, acquisition, sales and development, and we advise land-owning businesses involved in mergers and acquisitions.

We have acted as land use counsel on some of the Northwest's most significant projects involving urban, commercial, industrial and resource development.