Municipal Law Lawyers and Attorneys

Municipal attorneys advise cities, counties, school districts and special districts, and represent private parties dealing with them: ordinances and land use approvals, zoning and variance applications, public records and open meetings requirements, bonds and public finance, annexation, code enforcement, eminent domain and tort claims against public bodies.

Two features run through the practice: procedures are prescribed by statute and easy to get wrong, and claims against public entities carry notice requirements and immunities that do not apply to private defendants.

Before you hire

• If you are suing a public body, ask about the notice of claim deadline immediately — it is often measured in months and it is jurisdictional.
• For land use, ask whether the attorney appears before your planning commission or council regularly. Local knowledge is most of the value.
• Ask about conflicts if the firm also represents the municipality involved.

Real estate law, environmental law and government and administrative law cover neighbouring work.