Zoning & Land Use

Statutes of limitations in zoning and land use matters can be as short as 30 to 60 days, effectively preventing communities from being able to organize, fundraise, and obtain private counsel to challenge adverse zoning determinations. SCSJ aims to fill this gap with rapid response litigation services, bringing zoning challenges on behalf of impacted rural, overburdened, and lower-income communities to prevent further concentration of polluting and extractive industries in these areas and advocates for proactive zoning policies like housing diversification and density, affordable housing, mixed-use development, transit-oriented development, and inclusionary zoning. We seek to defend historic Black neighborhoods, low-income communities, rural areas, and Black and Brown property ownership rights from erasure and exploitive zoning processes in the North Carolina courts.

SCSJ provides strategic advice and counseling and testifies at public hearings on behalf of impacted communities in an effort to prevent harmful zoning changes from being enacted, and where possible works with municipal decision-makers, industry representatives, and state and federal government officials to improve environmental justice and avoid the need to resort to litigation where possible. 

SCSJ offers communications capabilities and support to community-based organizations to amplify impacted residents’ voices in zoning and land use matters.