Saturday, September 25, 2010

Requiring Christian School To Obtain Use Permit Did Not Violate RLUIPA

In County of Los Angeles v. Sahag-Mesrob Armenian Christian School, (CA App., Sept. 22, 2010), a California state appellate court held that RLUIPA was not violated by the county's insistence that a Christian High School obtain a conditional use permit and comply with environmental laws in order to operate.  The denial of a waiver to permit the school to continue to operate while the permit application was pending neither imposed a substantial burden on the school's exercise of religion, nor did it violate the "equal terms" provisions of RLUIPA.