42 U.S.C. § 2000cc

Protection of land use as religious exercise

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(a) Substantial burdens(1) General ruleNo government shall impose or implement a land use regulation in a manner that imposes a substantial burden on the religious exercise of a person, including a religious assembly or institution, unless the government demonstrates that imposition of the burden on that person, assembly, or institution—(A) is in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest; and(B) is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental interest.(2) Scope of applicationThis subsection applies in any case in which—(A) the substantial burden is imposed in a program or activity that receives Federal financial assistance, even if the burden results from a rule of general applicability;(B) the substantial burden affects, or removal of that substantial burden would affect, commerce with foreign nations, among the several States, or with Indian tribes, even if the burden results from a rule of general applicability; or(C) the substantial burden is imposed in the implementation of a land use regulation or system of land use regulations, under which a government makes, or has in place formal or informal procedures or practices that permit the government to make, individualized assessments of the proposed uses for the property involved.(b) Discrimination and exclusion(1) Equal terms

No government shall impose or implement a land use regulation in a manner that treats a religious assembly or institution on less than equal terms with a nonreligious assembly or institution.

(2) Nondiscrimination

No government shall impose or implement a land use regulation that discriminates against any assembly or institution on the basis of religion or religious denomination.

(3) Exclusions and limitsNo government shall impose or implement a land use regulation that—(A) totally excludes religious assemblies from a jurisdiction; or(B) unreasonably limits religious assemblies, institutions, or structures within a jurisdiction.
(Pub. L. 106–274, § 2, Sept. 22, 2000, 114 Stat. 803.)Statutory Notes and Related SubsidiariesShort Title

Pub. L. 106–274, § 1, Sept. 22, 2000, 114 Stat. 803, provided that: “This Act [enacting this chapter and amending sections 1988, 2000bb–2 and 2000bb–3 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000’ ”.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 1,747 cases (731 in the last 5 years), 2001–2026 · leading case: Lighthouse Institute for Evangelism, Inc. v. City of Long Branch
Lighthouse Institute for Evangelism, Inc. v. City of Long Branch (2007) ca3 · cites it 26× “The land-use section of the statute is further subdivided into two sections: Substantial Burdens, § 2000cc(a), and Discrimination and Exclusion, § 2000cc(b).”
Midrash Sephardi, Inc. v. Town of Surfside (2004) ca11 · cites it 9× “h”), two synagogues serving the Surf- *1219 side-Bal Harbour-Bay Harbor Islands area of Miami-Dade County, Florida, appeal the district court’s entry of summary judgment in favor of the Town of Surfside (“Surfside”) on the synagogues’ claims challenging the Surfside Zoning…”
Ramirez v. Collier (2022) scotus · cites it 7× “42 U. S. C. §2000cc–1(a). A plaintiff bears the initial burden of proving that a prison policy “implicates his religious exercise.”
River of Life Kingdom Ministries v. Village of Hazel Crest (2010) ca7 · cites it 16× “The court granted rehearing en banc to consider the proper standard for applying the equal-terms provision of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc. That provision states that "no government shall impose or implement a land use regulation…”
Tree of Life Christian Sch. v. City of Upper Arlington, Ohio (2018) ca6 · cites it 18× “§ 2000cc(a)(1) (“No government shall impose or implement a land use regulation in a manner that imposes a substantial burden on the religious exercise of a person, including a religious assembly or institution, unless the government demonstrates that imposition of the burden on…”
St. John's United Church of Christ v. City of Chicago (2007) ca7 · cites it 7× “John's claims that the City's attempt to condemn a cemetery located on church property violates the First Amendment's Free Exercise Clause, the Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection Clause, and the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), 42 U.S.C. §…”
Chabad Lubavitch of Litchfield County, Inc. v. Litchfield Historic District Commission (2014) ca2 · cites it 11× “§§ 1983 , 1985, and 1986; the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (“RLUIPA”), 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc et seq.; and Connecticut state law by denying the application.”
Primera Iglesia Bautista Hispana of Boca Raton, Inc. v. Broward County (2006) ca11 · cites it 9× “The full text of RLUIPA section 2, 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc, reads as follows: (a) Substantial burdens (1) General rule No government shall impose or implement a land use regulation in a manner that imposes a substantial burden on the religious exercise of a person, including a…”
Jesus Christ is the Answer Ministries, Inc. v. Balt. Cnty. (2019) ca4 · cites it 5× “The district court dismissed Plaintiffs' suit for failure to state a claim under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act ("RLUIPA"), 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc et seq. , the Free Exercise Clause, the Equal Protection Clause, and Article 36 of the Maryland Declaration of…”
Covenant Christian Ministries, Inc. v. City of Marietta (2011) ca11 · cites it 12× “As pertinent to this appeal, Covenant and Anderson each allege multiple claims under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (“RLUIPA”), 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc. The district court granted summary judgment in favor of the City and against Covenant and Anderson on all…”
Livingston Christian Schools v. Genoa Charter Township (2017) ca6 · cites it 7× “LCS alleged that the denial of the application for a special-use permit violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc at seq. The Township moved for summary judgment in its favor, which the district court granted.”
Navajo Nation v. United States Forest Service (2008) ca9 · cites it 6× “Fifth, the Plaintiffs assert Congress expanded RFRA's definition of "exercise of religion" with the enactment of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 ("RLUIPA"), 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000cc et seq. Navajo Br. at 29; see also Dissent at 1084-85.”
— 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc(1) — 3 cases
Johnson v. Patterson (2025) tned
— 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc(2)(A) — 1 case
— 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc(2)(B) — 1 case
— 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc(2)(C) — 5 cases
— 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc(2)(a) — 4 cases
— 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc(2)(b)(l) — 2 cases
— 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc(a) — 62 cases
Smith v. Allen (2007) ca11
Lighthouse Institute for Evangelism, Inc. v. City of Long Branch (2007) ca3 “The land-use section of the statute is further subdivided into two sections: Substantial Burdens, § 2000cc(a), and Discrimination and Exclusion, § 2000cc(b).”
— 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc(a)(1) — 153 cases
Cyril Korte v. HHS (2013) ca7
Tree of Life Christian Sch. v. City of Upper Arlington, Ohio (2018) ca6 “§ 2000cc(a)(1) (“No government shall impose or implement a land use regulation in a manner that imposes a substantial burden on the religious exercise of a person, including a religious assembly or institution, unless the government demonstrates that imposition of the burden on…”
— 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc(a)(1)(A) — 10 cases
— 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc(a)(1)(A)(B) — 1 case
— 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc(a)(1)(B) — 2 cases
— 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc(a)(2) — 30 cases
Midrash Sephardi, Inc. v. Town of Surfside (2004) ca11 “h”), two synagogues serving the Surf- *1219 side-Bal Harbour-Bay Harbor Islands area of Miami-Dade County, Florida, appeal the district court’s entry of summary judgment in favor of the Town of Surfside (“Surfside”) on the synagogues’ claims challenging the Surfside Zoning…”
Vinning-El v. Evans (2011) ca7
— 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc(a)(2)(A) — 15 cases
River of Life Kingdom Ministries v. Village of Hazel Crest (2010) ca7 “The court granted rehearing en banc to consider the proper standard for applying the equal-terms provision of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc. That provision states that "no government shall impose or implement a land use regulation…”
Chabad Lubavitch of Litchfield County, Inc. v. Litchfield Historic District Commission (2014) ca2 “§§ 1983 , 1985, and 1986; the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (“RLUIPA”), 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc et seq.; and Connecticut state law by denying the application.”
— 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc(a)(2)(B) — 16 cases
— 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc(a)(2)(C) — 43 cases
Chabad Lubavitch of Litchfield County, Inc. v. Litchfield Historic District Commission (2014) ca2 “§§ 1983 , 1985, and 1986; the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (“RLUIPA”), 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc et seq.; and Connecticut state law by denying the application.”
River of Life Kingdom Ministries v. Village of Hazel Crest (2010) ca7 “The court granted rehearing en banc to consider the proper standard for applying the equal-terms provision of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc. That provision states that "no government shall impose or implement a land use regulation…”
— 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc(a)(2)(a) — 1 case
— 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc(a)(2)(b)(2) — 1 case
— 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc(a)(2)(b)(l) — 1 case
— 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc(a)(2)(c) — 2 cases
— 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc(a)(A1) — 1 case
— 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc(a)(l) — 87 cases
Lighthouse Institute for Evangelism, Inc. v. City of Long Branch (2007) ca3 “The land-use section of the statute is further subdivided into two sections: Substantial Burdens, § 2000cc(a), and Discrimination and Exclusion, § 2000cc(b).”
— 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc(a)(l)(A) — 6 cases
— 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc(a)(l)(B) — 2 cases
— 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc(b) — 24 cases
Midrash Sephardi, Inc. v. Town of Surfside (2004) ca11 “h”), two synagogues serving the Surf- *1219 side-Bal Harbour-Bay Harbor Islands area of Miami-Dade County, Florida, appeal the district court’s entry of summary judgment in favor of the Town of Surfside (“Surfside”) on the synagogues’ claims challenging the Surfside Zoning…”
— 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc(b)(1) — 85 cases
Lighthouse Institute for Evangelism, Inc. v. City of Long Branch (2007) ca3 “The land-use section of the statute is further subdivided into two sections: Substantial Burdens, § 2000cc(a), and Discrimination and Exclusion, § 2000cc(b).”
Tree of Life Christian Sch. v. City of Upper Arlington, Ohio (2018) ca6 “§ 2000cc(a)(1) (“No government shall impose or implement a land use regulation in a manner that imposes a substantial burden on the religious exercise of a person, including a religious assembly or institution, unless the government demonstrates that imposition of the burden on…”
River of Life Kingdom Ministries v. Village of Hazel Crest (2010) ca7 “The court granted rehearing en banc to consider the proper standard for applying the equal-terms provision of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc. That provision states that "no government shall impose or implement a land use regulation…”
— 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc(b)(2) — 41 cases
Jesus Christ is the Answer Ministries, Inc. v. Balt. Cnty. (2019) ca4 “The district court dismissed Plaintiffs' suit for failure to state a claim under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act ("RLUIPA"), 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc et seq. , the Free Exercise Clause, the Equal Protection Clause, and Article 36 of the Maryland Declaration of…”
Chabad Lubavitch of Litchfield County, Inc. v. Litchfield Historic District Commission (2014) ca2 “§§ 1983 , 1985, and 1986; the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (“RLUIPA”), 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc et seq.; and Connecticut state law by denying the application.”
Covenant Christian Ministries, Inc. v. City of Marietta (2011) ca11 “As pertinent to this appeal, Covenant and Anderson each allege multiple claims under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (“RLUIPA”), 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc. The district court granted summary judgment in favor of the City and against Covenant and Anderson on all…”
Tree of Life Christian Sch. v. City of Upper Arlington, Ohio (2018) ca6 “§ 2000cc(a)(1) (“No government shall impose or implement a land use regulation in a manner that imposes a substantial burden on the religious exercise of a person, including a religious assembly or institution, unless the government demonstrates that imposition of the burden on…”
— 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc(b)(3) — 21 cases
Midrash Sephardi, Inc. v. Town of Surfside (2004) ca11 “h”), two synagogues serving the Surf- *1219 side-Bal Harbour-Bay Harbor Islands area of Miami-Dade County, Florida, appeal the district court’s entry of summary judgment in favor of the Town of Surfside (“Surfside”) on the synagogues’ claims challenging the Surfside Zoning…”
Covenant Christian Ministries, Inc. v. City of Marietta (2011) ca11 “As pertinent to this appeal, Covenant and Anderson each allege multiple claims under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (“RLUIPA”), 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc. The district court granted summary judgment in favor of the City and against Covenant and Anderson on all…”
— 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc(b)(3)(A) — 6 cases
— 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc(b)(3)(B) — 20 cases
Primera Iglesia Bautista Hispana of Boca Raton, Inc. v. Broward County (2006) ca11 “The full text of RLUIPA section 2, 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc, reads as follows: (a) Substantial burdens (1) General rule No government shall impose or implement a land use regulation in a manner that imposes a substantial burden on the religious exercise of a person, including a…”
— 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc(b)(l) — 51 cases
Lighthouse Institute for Evangelism, Inc. v. City of Long Branch (2007) ca3 “The land-use section of the statute is further subdivided into two sections: Substantial Burdens, § 2000cc(a), and Discrimination and Exclusion, § 2000cc(b).”
Primera Iglesia Bautista Hispana of Boca Raton, Inc. v. Broward County (2006) ca11 “The full text of RLUIPA section 2, 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc, reads as follows: (a) Substantial burdens (1) General rule No government shall impose or implement a land use regulation in a manner that imposes a substantial burden on the religious exercise of a person, including a…”
Covenant Christian Ministries, Inc. v. City of Marietta (2011) ca11 “As pertinent to this appeal, Covenant and Anderson each allege multiple claims under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (“RLUIPA”), 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc. The district court granted summary judgment in favor of the City and against Covenant and Anderson on all…”
Chabad Lubavitch of Litchfield County, Inc. v. Litchfield Historic District Commission (2014) ca2 “§§ 1983 , 1985, and 1986; the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (“RLUIPA”), 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc et seq.; and Connecticut state law by denying the application.”
— 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc(l) — 1 case
— 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc(l)(a) — 1 case
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