Land Use Clinic
Abstract
The United States Supreme Court and other federal and state courts have consistently dismissed challenges against open space requirements and reductions in minimum lot sizes similar to those that exist within ordinances regulating conservation subdivisions. Although some precedent exists for finding open space requirements and minimum lot sizes unconstitutional, courts have only reached such conclusions in limited situations where the challenged regulations destroy the entire economic value of a plaintiff’s property, where there is no rational basis for the regulations, or where the land use regulation is found to substantially interfere with the property owner’s use and enjoyment of their property. This paper analyzes the constitutionality of requirements in conservation subdivision ordinances to cluster houses together and preserve the remaining open space.
Repository Citation
Weiss, Matthew, "The Constitutionality of Open Space Requirements and Minimum Lot Sizes" (2007). Land Use Clinic. 8.
https://digitalcommons.law.uga.edu/landuse/8