Development law and housing aims to create livable and sustainable communities by regulating land use, building construction, and housing development.

A lease agreement is a legally binding contract that outlines the terms and conditions of a rental property, including rent, security deposit, and responsibilities of both parties.

Zoning laws divide a city or town into different zones, each with its own set of regulations regarding the types of buildings and activities that are permitted.

Adaptive reuse involves modifying an existing building to accommodate a new use, often from commercial or industrial to residential.

The Fair Housing Act of 1968 is the primary federal law that prohibits discrimination in housing in the United States.

Urban renewal involves clearing out blighted areas and replacing them with new developments, often including a mix of residential, commercial, and public spaces.

Trespass is the legal term for the unauthorized entry onto or occupation of another person's property.

Eminent domain is the power of the government to take private property for public use, with just compensation to the owner.

Quiet title is a legal action to establish or confirm the ownership of a property and to remove any cloud on the title.

Adverse possession is a legal doctrine that allows a person to acquire title to property by possessing it openly, continuously, and notoriously for a specified period of time.

A partition action is a legal proceeding to divide and distribute real property among co-owners who cannot agree on how to divide the property.

Merger is the legal process of combining two or more adjacent properties into a single property, resulting in one owner with one title.

A mortgage is a legal document that creates a lien against real property to secure a debt, typically a loan.

An easement is a legal right to use another person's property for a specific purpose, such as a right-of-way or a utility easement.

A restrictive covenant is a legal agreement that restricts the use of land in a certain way, such as a restriction on building height or the type of business that can operate on the property.