Land Use & Zoning

Our Land Use, Zoning, and Governmental Affairs team of attorneys have decades of practice and a wide range of experience in efficiently guiding our clients through the complex local, state, and federal regulations to assist in pursuing development projects and business opportunities throughout the State of Florida.

The Land Use, Zoning and Governmental Affairs practice group has been an important part of Becker’s core business since its inception. The combination of our pre-eminence in real estate, local governmental law, lobbying, and construction law provides our developer clients with unique and unparalleled service. We have served as counsel in planning, entitling, developing, and building a wide range of projects, from waterfront development to equestrian venues, from the development of raw land to the redevelopment of commercial projects.

From complex commercial ventures such as hotels, office buildings, industrial parks, shopping centers, warehouses, racetracks, and telecommunications towers to high-rise residential developments, workforce and affordable housing, and even county fairs and pickleball, Becker’s Land Use, Zoning , and Government Affairs attorneys are experienced and knowledgeable in all aspects of land development and usage including, but not limited to: local government law and review of and lobbying for regulatory amendments; developer agreements; land use and zoning changes; environmental permitting; site planning; the filing of bid protests; representation of clients before hearing examiners, planning commissions, and boards of adjustments; and the creation of Municipal Service Benefit and Taxing Units (MSBUs and MSTUs), among other things. Where appropriate, we assist our clients in obtaining density increases, defense of code enforcement prosecutions, drafting and filing of state registration requirements, use of tax credit financing, variances, conditional uses, special exceptions, vacations, temporary use permits, drafting and processing amendments to local, county and state law, and obtaining valuable economic incentives.

Becker prides itself on working with civic and community groups to build consensus and propose out-of-the-box winning strategies that unify communities. We have excellent working relationships with government representatives at all levels. Our experience enables our team to anticipate issues and combine our relationships with staff, consultants, and elected officials to seamlessly guide projects through the approval process. These relationships combined with our knowledge and experience enables us to fully inform and counsel our clients in complex commercial ventures such as hotels, office, commercial, industrial, institutional, telecommunication, and residential projects, including pre-litigation, litigation, and Petitions for Writ of Certiorari.

The talent of the Becker team is not limited to development entitlements, we can assist with issues ranging from the acquisition of property to the vacation and abandonment and/or creation of easements, drafting of developer agreements, drafting restrictive covenants, liquor licensing, hotel licensing, code enforcement matters, fine reduction hearings, platting and subdivision of property, obtaining agricultural classifications, and representation before the value adjustment board on real property valuation issues.   If it is related to land Becker can provide an effective, efficient, and a creative strategy to achieve our client’s goals.

Our client base includes buyers, sellers, lenders and borrowers, owners, developers, and contractors who are all seeking to increase the economic value of their land. In addition, through our representation of 4,000+ Community Association clients, we are called upon to negotiate development agreements to mitigate impacts from nearby or adjoining developments. We have successfully represented Community Association clients before City and County Commissions throughout Florida on zoning, permits, height limitations, setbacks, noise mitigation, and other matters that affect existing communities.