Sheetz v. El Dorado County
View Official PDFBelow are plain-language sections to help you understand what the Court decided in Sheetz v. El Dorado County and why it matters. Quotes are taken from the syllabus (the Court’s short summary at the start of the opinion).
Summary
A short, plain-English overview of Sheetz v. El Dorado County.
The Supreme Court reviewed whether the Takings Clause applies to legislative conditions on building permits, specifically regarding traffic impact fees imposed by El Dorado County. The Court vacated the lower court's decision, emphasizing that the Takings Clause does not differentiate between legislative and administrative land-use permit conditions. The case was remanded for further consideration by state courts.
Holding
The single most important “bottom line” of what the Court decided in Sheetz v. El Dorado County.
The Court held that the Takings Clause does not distinguish between legislative and administrative land-use permit conditions.
Constitutional Concepts
These are the Constitution-related themes that appear in Sheetz v. El Dorado County. Click a concept to see other cases that involve the same idea.
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Why Takings Clause is relevant to Sheetz v. El Dorado County
The case directly addresses whether the Takings Clause applies to legislative conditions on building permits, specifically regarding monetary exactions.
Syllabus excerpt (verbatim)Held: The Takings Clause does not distinguish between legislative and administrative land-use permit conditions.
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Why Substantive Due Process is relevant to Sheetz v. El Dorado County
The case involves the government's authority to impose conditions on land use, which relates to substantive due process considerations of property rights.
Syllabus excerpt (verbatim)A state law that merely restricts land use in a way 'reasonably necessary to the effectuation of a substantial government purpose' is not a taking unless it saps too much of the property's value or frustrates the owner's investment-backed expectations.
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Why Judicial Review is relevant to Sheetz v. El Dorado County
The Court's decision involves reviewing and potentially invalidating government action concerning property exactions.
Syllabus excerpt (verbatim)Whether a permit condition imposed on a class of properties must be tailored with the same degree of specificity as a permit condition that targets a particular development is an issue for the state courts to consider in the first instance.
Key Quotes
Short excerpts from the syllabus in Sheetz v. El Dorado County that support the summary and concepts above.
The Takings Clause does not distinguish between legislative and administrative land-use permit conditions.
Precedent points the same way as text and history.
Conditions on building permits are not exempt from scrutiny under Nollan and Dolan just because a legislative body imposed them.
