Faegre Baker Daniels counsels owners, developers and lenders in all aspects of development approvals. Our clients include large developers and corporations, as well as individual owners and both local and state government units.

To successfully represent this spectrum of clients—in land use needs ranging from individual home projects to industrial development—we first identify potential challenges. Based on our clients' objectives, we then steer a course through the complex regulatory environment to meet those objectives.

Regulatory Approvals

Lawyers in this practice handle matters concerning zoning, subdivision, environmental review, environmental floodplain, shoreland and wetland protection regulations and permitting, historic preservation, licensing, and easements. We work collaboratively with clients, project architects and other project consultants, lenders, government staff and officials, and community members to deliver creative, cost-effective regulatory approvals.

In addition to obtaining development approvals, we perform due diligence review regarding land use issues relevant to real estate transactions and advise property owners on land use and regulatory consequences of eminent domain actions.

Municipal Zoning Ordinances

We provide a full range of services to our municipal clients, including the development or rewriting of comprehensive plans and zoning ordinances for dozens of cities and counties.

Lawyers in our land use practice also provide representation—or collaborate as needed with other firm lawyers—on real estate financing, governmental assistance, government relations, tax and construction. When matters require a litigation response, we work closely with lawyers our litigation practice to provide clients with experienced representation.

Comprehensive Tax Services

In instances when clients choose to preserve, instead of develop land, we offer comprehensive real estate and tax services, including assistance with state and IRS audits, for charitable donations and sales of conservation easements across the country and internationally. Our lawyers have completed more than 100 transactions protecting more than 75,000 acres of land.

We have appeared in state, regional, county and municipal regulatory venues throughout the Minneapolis-St. Paul, Indianapolis and Chicago metropolitan areas; Fort Wayne and South Bend areas; Denver, Boulder and Colorado Springs areas; and in Des Moines and other major Iowa cities.