Land Use Controls

This course examines issues of equity and efficiency that arise when private and public actors regulate land use and development. The principal topics covered include the common law of nuisance, servitudes, zoning, and the Takings Clause. The course should be useful to lawyers engaged in real estate practice or local government law, perhaps helpful on the bar exam, and interesting to anyone who cares about the ramifications of democratic decision making.

The course applies principles from such areas as property, constitutional law, administrative law, and economics. There are, however, no prerequisites for the course other than the first-year curriculum at IU Maurer School of Law.

Students are expected to participate frequently on a voluntary basis. Students should note that computers may be used in the classroom only for the purpose of taking notes in a word processing program. The closed-book exam will certainly include multiple-choice questions, perhaps nothing else.

It is quite possible that this course will not be offered during the 2024-2025 school year.