Opinion ID: 746291
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Small Landowners' equal protection claim

Text: 59 The Small Landowners contend that the Ordinance violates their equal protection rights by grouping small landowners with owners such as the Bishop Estate, which owns many condominium projects. We disagree. 60 The Small Landowners do not contend they constitute a suspect class; hence, we will uphold the Ordinance if it is rationally related to a legitimate state interest. See Massachusetts Bd. of Retirement v. Murgia, 427 U.S. 307, 312, 96 S.Ct. 2562, 2566, 49 L.Ed.2d 520 (1976). As explained above, the Ordinance furthers a legitimate state interest. See supra section II(B)(2). The Ordinance is rationally related to that interest. See supra section II(B)(3). Thus we hold Ordinance 91-95 does not violate the Small Landowners' equal protection rights.