Land Use & Permitting

GDB provides legal counsel on land use and permitting matters that implicate federal, state and local laws.  For example, the firm’s attorneys have assisted with the processing of Clean Water Act section 404 permits and general conformity determinations at the federal level, and incidental take permits under the California Endangered Species Act and master streambed alteration agreements at the state level.  At the local level, the firm processes amendments to general plans; the preparation of specific plans; the initiation of zone changes; the negotiation of development rights; and, the receipt of conditional use permits.

Due to the nature of this practice area, GDB’s attorneys have experience working with numerous public agencies that have regulatory oversight and permitting authorities in the land use arena, such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the California Department of Fish & Wildlife, the California Coastal Commission, various regional water quality control boards and air quality management districts, and local land use jurisdictions, including cities and counties.  The firm strives to minimize duplication of work efforts across the permitting spectrum, where possible, and consults with its clients on the requisite sequencing of permitting efforts, where projects require a complex suite of entitlements.