Opinion ID: 204778
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA)

Text: RLUIPA provides that a government land-use regulation that imposes a substantial burden on the religious exercise of a ... religious assembly or institution is unlawful unless the government demonstrates that imposition of the burden ... is in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest; and is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental interest. 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc(a)(1). Thus, RLUIPA analysis proceeds in two sequential steps. First, the plaintiff must demonstrate that a government action has imposed a substantial burden on the plaintiff's religious exercise. Second, once the plaintiff has shown a substantial burden, the government must show that its action was the least restrictive means of further[ing] a compelling governmental interest. Id. As a preliminary matter, RLUIPA applies if ... [the] burden is imposed in the implementation of a land use regulation or system of land use regulations, under which a government makes ... individualized assessments of the proposed uses for the property involved. 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc(a)(2)(C). There is no dispute that the City's treatment of the Church's applications constitutes an individualized assessment. Nor is there dispute that the City's Zoning Code undeniably is a system of land use regulations within the meaning of RLUIPA because it is a system of zoning [laws] ... that limits or restricts a claimant's use or development of land.... 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc-5(5).