Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

Private Actions to Enforce Zoning Violations

BY Stewart E. Sterk
November 30, 2015

When does a neighboring landowner have standing to bring a private action to enjoin a zoning violation? That question reaches the New York courts with some frequency, and although the recent trend is to liberalize standing requirements, the answer is not entirely free from uncertainty. The Second Department was faced with one aspect of the issue most recently in Greens at Half Hollow Home Owners Association, Inc. v. Greens Golf Club LLC, where the court upheld neighbor standing.

Town Law Section 268(2)

In Greens at Half Hollow, the Second Department relied on Town Law section 268(2) to hold that a neighboring homeowner association had standing to enforce a zoning restriction that required a developer to maintain community facility buildings for the exclusive use of residents of the district and their guests. Section 268(2) explicitly authorizes any three taxpayers “who are jointly or severally aggrieved by” a zoning violation to bring an action to enjoin the violation if a resident taxpayer asks municipal officials to take action and those officials fail or refuse to take appropriate action for a period of 10 days. Section 268 is not, however, a panacea for landowners seeking to enjoin a perceived zoning violation.

This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
Yachts, Jets, Horses & Hooch: Specialized Commercial Leasing Models Image

Defining commercial real estate asset class is essentially a property explaining how it identifies — not necessarily what its original intention was or what others think it ought to be. This article discusses, from a general issue-spot and contextual analysis perspective, how lawyers ought to think about specialized leasing formats and the regulatory backdrops that may inform what the documentation needs to contain for compliance purposes.

Hyperlinked Documents: The Latest e-Discovery Challenge Image

As courts and discovery experts debate whether hyperlinked content should be treated the same as traditional attachments, legal practitioners are grappling with the technical and legal complexities of collecting, analyzing and reviewing these documents in real-world cases.

Identifying Your Practice's Differentiator Image

How to Convey Your Merits In a Way That Earns Trust, Clients and Distinctions Just as no two individuals have the exact same face, no two lawyers practice in their respective fields or serve clients in the exact same way. Think of this as a "Unique Value Proposition." Internal consideration about what you uniquely bring to your clients, colleagues, firm and industry can provide untold benefits for your law practice.

Risks and Ad Fraud Protection In Digital Advertising Image

The ever-evolving digital marketing landscape, coupled with the industry-wide adoption of programmatic advertising, poses a significant threat to the effectiveness and integrity of digital advertising campaigns. This article explores various risks to digital advertising from pixel stuffing and ad stacking to domain spoofing and bots. It will also explore what should be done to ensure ad fraud protection and improve effectiveness.

Turning Business Development Plans Into Reality Image

This article offers practical insights and best practices to navigate the path from roadmap to rainmaking, ensuring your business development efforts are not just sporadic bursts of activity, but an integrated part of your daily success.