Federal Law Places Restrictions on Zoning Regulations

March 11, 2001

Source: The San Francisco Chronicle

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2001/03/11

On March 11, 2001, The San Francisco Chronicle reported that, "in the Bay Area, more than a dozen religious groups are considering using" the federal law, the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, which "requires local government to prove that zoning decisions against religious groups are the least restrictive means to accomplish a compelling government interest." An advocate for once congregation appealing to this law said it has "affected a radical and needed change in zoning. Before, you could use any reason to deny a permit. Now, you really have to substantiate those reasons."