Hollywood Land Use and Zoning Lawyer

Are you looking for a land use and zoning lawyer in Hollywood, FL?

At Loshak Law PLLC, we are Hollywood land use and zoning lawyers committed to thorough preparation in every matter we handle.

If your Hollywood project needs approval from a city board, the application and the hearing decide whether you can build. Our Hollywood, FL land use and zoning lawyer prepares the application, meets with city planning staff, and presents your request at the hearing.

Loshak Law PLLC represents residential and commercial owners, developers, and businesses in land use matters. We also handle code compliance cases that block a sale or a permit. Contact us to schedule a consultation.

Land Use and Zoning Lawyer Hollywood, FL

A land use and zoning attorney represents property owners in the approvals a city requires before construction, a change of use, or a lot division. The attorney reviews the zoning that applies to the parcel, prepares the application, and presents the evidence the board needs to approve it. When a code violation or a prior condition limits the property, the attorney works to resolve it. The work also covers conditions attached to past approvals, which stay with the property after a sale.

Hollywood had an estimated 153,859 residents in July 2023, about 0.5 percent more than in April 2020, according to Census population estimates. Each new project, whether an addition or a new building, needs zoning approval before the city issues a permit.

Types of Land Use and Zoning Cases We Handle in Hollywood

Hollywood’s approvals range from a setback variance on a single lot to a rezoning for a mixed-use building. Our land use attorneys handle the following matters for owners, developers, and businesses.

• Variances. An owner who cannot meet a setback, height, or parking standard can ask the city for a variance. We prepare the justification and present the request to the Planning and Development Board. The board weighs the request against the city’s variance criteria, so we address each criterion in writing.
• Site plan and design review. Multifamily, commercial, and mixed-use projects need site plan and design approval before permitting. We coordinate the submission with the architect and respond to staff comments. Approval conditions often cover landscaping, parking, and access.
• Rezonings and land use amendments. A change in zoning district or land use designation goes through board review and a City Commission vote. We handle each step of rezoning in Florida from the first staff meeting to the final hearing.
• Historic district approvals. Exterior changes and demolitions in Hollywood’s historic districts require a certificate of appropriateness from the Historic Preservation Board. We prepare the application and present it to the board.
• Code compliance cases. Open violations can block a sale, a refinance, or a new permit. We identify what the city requires, negotiate a compliance schedule, and represent owners at the hearing. Some cases close with a permit for existing work, while others require removal.
• Plats and lot divisions. Owners dividing a lot must meet the city’s size, frontage, and access standards. We prepare the application and coordinate the survey.
• Challenges to city decisions. An owner can sometimes challenge a denial or a condition. We evaluate the record and advise owners on claims against a city and other options for review.
• Real estate closings. A buyer who needs an approval can make the purchase depend on it. We draft the zoning contingency clause and coordinate the closing date with the hearing schedule.
• Commercial real estate. A business can open only where the zoning permits its use. We confirm the use before the lease or purchase is binding.
• Title insurance. Recorded conditions from prior approvals can bind a new owner. We review them against the title commitment before closing.

Why Choose Loshak Law PLLC as My Land Use and Zoning Lawyer in Hollywood, FL?

Applications Prepared for the Hearing, Not Just the Filing

A board decides a variance or site plan on the evidence in front of it. We build that evidence into the application: the site plan, the written justification, and responses to each approval criterion. We meet with planning staff before the hearing to address their concerns in advance. We also review every proposed condition with the client before the board votes. This is the standard of preparation we bring as a real estate lawyer in Hollywood, FL handling zoning requests. We have represented residential and commercial clients in variances, site plans, and code compliance matters across Broward County.

Mr. Loshak’s Land Use and Business Practice

Brandon F. Loshak practices in land use and zoning, real estate, and business transactions. He has advised national and international companies and practiced at one of the country’s largest law firms before founding Loshak Law PLLC. He earned his J.D. at St. Thomas University School of Law, and his finance background informs how he weighs the cost of each proposed condition. He is admitted in Florida and Texas and holds an AV Preeminent peer rating from Martindale-Hubbell.

Understanding Land Use and Zoning Cases

What Should You Bring to Your Land Use and Zoning Consultation?

Bring the following documents so we can review the parcel’s zoning at the first meeting.

• A current survey of the property
• Any prior approvals, variances, or conditions recorded for the parcel
• Plans or concept drawings for the proposed work
• Code violation notices or letters from the city
• The purchase contract or lease, if a transaction is pending

You leave the consultation with a list of the approvals the project needs and the board that decides each one.

Hollywood Zoning Approvals and Who Decides Them

Hollywood splits land use decisions among city staff, appointed boards, and the City Commission. Staff in the Planning and Urban Design Division review applications and prepare recommendations. The Planning and Development Board decides variances, design, and site plans. The Historic Preservation Board decides certificates of appropriateness for work in historic districts. Each board meets on a published schedule, and staff place an application on an agenda only after it is complete.

The City Commission adopts rezonings and land use plan amendments by ordinance after board review. The Commission can also choose to review certain board decisions. A board approval therefore does not always end the process.

What Are Important Aspects of a Land Use and Zoning Case?

Boards decide these requests on the record, so the application must address each criterion in the city’s land development rules.

• Evidence and testimony. The board relies on the application, the staff report, and testimony at the hearing. General statements of support or opposition do not replace documented facts.
• Neighbor notice. Nearby owners receive notice of many applications and may speak at the hearing. We address their concerns before the hearing when possible.
• Conditions of approval. A board can tie a variance to a specific use or owner. We review each condition before the vote, because conditions can limit a later sale or change of use. Where possible, we ask the board to tie conditions to the project rather than to the owner.
• Parking and access. Boards often ask for a parking or traffic study when a project reduces required parking or changes access to the street.
• Flood elevation. Parcels in a FEMA flood zone must meet elevation requirements that affect the height and design of new construction.

What Is The Land Use and Zoning Case Timeline?

A variance heard by one board generally moves faster than a rezoning that also needs a City Commission vote. The board calendar and the notice period set the pace.

1. We meet with planning staff to confirm the approvals the project needs.
2. We file the application, and staff review it for completeness.
3. Staff issue comments, and we revise the plans or justification.
4. The city sends notice, and the board holds the public hearing.
5. The City Commission votes on rezonings and amendments, and the owner then applies for permits.

Hollywood Boards and Land Use Resources

• Planning and Development Board and Historic Preservation Board: The City of Hollywood’s appointed boards hear variances, site plans, design reviews, and historic district applications.
• FEMA Map Service Center: Shows the flood zone for any Hollywood address, which determines elevation requirements for new construction.
• Certified Local Governments: The Florida Division of Historical Resources works with local historic preservation boards through this program.
• National Register listings: The National Park Service keeps the federal list of historic places, and listing can make a property eligible for preservation incentives.
• EPA brownfields assistance: EPA Region 4 supports cleanup and reuse of contaminated commercial sites in Florida.

Reach Out to Loshak Law PLLC to Schedule a Consultation

Bring us into the project before you file, so the application addresses staff and board concerns from the start. We also review denials and pending code cases. Loshak Law PLLC represents owners, developers, and businesses throughout Broward County. Contact us to schedule a consultation with our Hollywood land use and zoning lawyer.