Prescriptive Easement: Old Gate, New Problem for Churches
How a neighbor’s gate into a church parking lot can become a prescriptive easement—and what California churches must do to prevent or reverse it.
Category Archives: Property & Land Use
Subdivision Map Act: California’s Land Division Requirements
Simply put, the California Subdivision Map Act (“SMA”) is the law that regulates how land may be divided into smaller parcels for development. It applies to all subdivisions in California, regardless of whether the resulting parcels are intended for residential, commercial, or industrial use. The SMA provides the legal structure cities and counties must follow when regulating land division, making it essential for any developer or property owner who intends to create new parcels. Purpose of the Subdivision Map Act The purpose of the Subdivision Map Act is to ensure […]
Legal Parcels of Land in California: Parcel Creation Guide
A clear guide to how legal parcels of land are created and verified in California, including deeds, surveys, subdivision maps, parcel maps, and certificates of compliance.
Towing Vehicles From Private Property
Removing an abandoned or illegally parked vehicle from church property isn’t as simple as calling a tow truck. Here’s what California law requires first.
Conditional Use Permits
A Conditional Use Permit lets a property owner get approval for a use not automatically allowed by zoning — but the process can take a year or more and costs $10,000-$20,000, with no guarantee of approval.
The Builder’s Remedy and California’s Housing Crisis: What It Means for Church Land
When a California city falls out of compliance with state housing law, the Builder’s Remedy can override its zoning entirely. Here’s how the HAA, SB 330, and CEQA fit together, and why it matters for churches sitting on developable land.
General Plan vs. Zoning
All property has an underlying or specific zone wherein the City or County has outlined in its General Plan for all zones within its jurisdiction. These zones indicate what the general, current, or future use of the land in a particular area will be. The purpose of this is to maintain continuity throughout the city while providing for the health, safety, morals, and general welfare of its residents. In short, it prevents things such as a steel mill from taking place in the middle of a neighborhood. Notwithstanding, the underlying […]
How Zoning Code Affects Church Property Use
Zoning laws don’t disappear just because a church has used its property the same way for years. Here’s how zoning code affects church property, nonconforming use, conditional permits, and RLUIPA protections actually work together — and what happens when a city tries to push a church out.
Lot Line Adjustments and Splits in California
Confused about lot line adjustments vs. lot splits? Learn the key differences, when each applies under California’s Subdivision Map Act, and what a Certificate of Compliance really means for your property.
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