Property Rights
Landlords Fight Back Against Local Governments Waging War on Short-Term Rentals
The Goldwater Institute filed three cases in California, Seattle, and Miami Beach to defend the rights of property owners against unfair home sharing laws.
Supreme Court Will Hear Case on the Excessive Fines Clause that Could End Up Curbing Asset Forfeiture Abuse
The case will decide whether the Excessive Fines Clause of the Eighth Amendment applies to the states. If so, it will also have to address how much it restricts asset forfeiture.
Trump, Ryan, and Walker Want to Seize Wisconsin Homes to Build a Foxconn Plant
State and local officials are doling out $4.5 billion and 1,000 acres to lure the Taiwanese manufacturing giant.
Rand Paul's Violent Neighbor Motivated by Brush Piles on Paul's Property
Some pundits blamed the victim, but the attack that broke six of Paul's ribs was motivated by aesthetic rage, not some actual fault of Paul's.
Our Amicus Brief in Major Property Rights Case Currently Before the Supreme Court
I coauthored an amicus brief in an important takings case, on behalf of the Cato Institute, The National Federation of Independent Business, and several other organizations.
Stossel Confronts Politicians About Corruption Allegations
Developer claims politicians blocked their project to favor a crony who helps the politicians.
California Lawmakers Look to Stop Cities from Billing Citizens Thousands for Their Own Prosecutions
A bill would stop the use of private lawyers to try to force residents to pay massive fees for minor crimes.
Give Susette Kelo Her Land Back
Jeff Benedict, author of "Little Pink House," proposes that the City of New London return the land it condemned in the takings that led to the notorious Supreme Court decision in Kelo v. City of New London.
St. Louis Town Agrees to Stop Bankrolling Itself by Fining Its Residents into the Poorhouse
Pagedale, Missouri, will stop trying to fine you for having mismatched curtains or saggy pants.
A Candidate for the Title of Dumbest Land-Use Restriction in the Nation
A DC law bars property owners from redeveloping land containing a full-service gas station, or removing them to make way for other uses.
The Defeat of California Senate Bill 827 and the Future of the Struggle to Curb Zoning
A California bill that would have greatly liberalized zoning rules failed in the state legislature. The defeat has implications for the broader struggle to expand housing and job opportunities for the poor.
"Little Pink House" Brings the Kelo Case to the Big Screen
An impressive new movie dramatizes the story behind the famous Supreme Court case about whether it is permissible for the government to condemn homes in order to promote private "economic development."
Stossel: Little Pink House
The story of how the government can take your home against your will.
Court Rules That Seattle Law Banning Landlords From Screening 'Qualified' Tenants Is a Taking
The state court ruling also concluded the taking violates the state constitution because it is for a forbidden "private use," rather than a public one.
Maryland City Raises Property Tax on Businesses by 800 Percent, in Bid to Attract More Businesses
Now they're being sued for it.
Supreme Court Will Hear Important Property Rights Case
This could result in a ruling overturning a terrible 1985 decision that makes it very difficult to bring takings cases in federal court.
Border Control Installs Camera On Man's Property Without Asking. When He Takes It Down, They Demand It Back. Now He's Suing.
Ricardo Palacios is fighting for his right to be left alone.
City Demands $6,000 from Woman over Illegal Chickens
A municipal scheme with a private prosecution firm leads to outrageous fines in the California desert.
Exposing Taxis to Competition from Uber and Lyft Is Not a Taking that Requires Compensation Under the Constitution
A federal court correctly rejects a dubious takings claim by Philadelphia cab companies.
Neil Gorsuch and Samuel Alito Butt Heads Over the Fourth Amendment, Again
Gorsuch advances another property rights theory of the Fourth Amendment that Alito rejects.
This California City Is Threatening a Family Over Property Fines Sent to a Dead Woman at the Wrong Address
An already awful practice of trying to use code violations as a revenue stream gets truly grotesque.
Florida Couple Fined $50 Per Day for 'Illegal' Treehouse on Their Own Property
Cited for building the treehouse without a proper permit, the family must now file for permits to tear it down.
California Bill Cutting Back Zoning Could Increase Access to Housing and Jobs for Millions
By greatly reducing zoning restrictions on housing construction, Bill 827 could massively expand opportunity for large numbers of people.
Seattle Bans Landlords From Screening "Qualified" Tenants
The city's goal is to curb "unconscious bias." But the policy is based on dangerous premises, and is likely to harm tenants more than it benefits them.
How Using Eminent Domain to Seize Land for a Border Wall Harms American Property Owners
A new study of border takings under the 2006 Secure Fence Act finds that many owners get inadequate compensation, and that the condemnation process is flawed in other ways.
Butterflies, Border Walls, and Property Rights
The North American Butterfly Association says Border Patrol agents have harassed employees and damaged property at the National Butterfly Center.
Judge Halts Indiana Town's Cruel Attempt to Fine Residents Out of their Properties
Property owners were ordered to pay thousands for violations unless they agreed to sell to a redeveloper.
Musician Wins Return of $91,800 He Supposedly Gave Wyoming Cops
The quick resolution of Phil Parhamovich's case shows once again that standing up to money-grabbing bullies can pay off.
Thankful for Property Rights on Thanksgiving Day
Private property became the foundation for building the most prosperous nation in the history of the world.
Nebraska Regulators Approve Keystone XL Pipeline
A big defeat for anti-pipeline activists.
Minor Violations Lead to Massive Prosecution Fees in Two California Desert Towns
A couple of busted windows can result in a bill for thousands-even tens of thousands-of dollars.
Florida Appeals Court Upholds City's Veggie-Garden Ban
A court says a city can squash your property rights because it thinks vegetables are ugly.
Justice Department Bizarrely Uses Madoff to Defend Taking People's Stuff Without Convicting Them First
Twisted incentives? What are those? Rod Rosenstein doesn't seem to have heard of them.
Wisconsin Lawmakers Pass Bill to Protect Property Rights, Reverse Supreme Court Decision
The U.S. Supreme Court said local regulators could treat two lots owned by the same family as if they were a single parcel. A new law aims to stop that.
After Stalling for Two Years, CBP Returns Truck It Stole at the Border
Gerardo Serrano still has not been compensated for the expenses imposed by the seizure.
Chicago Alderman Who Told Businessman to 'Come Back To Me On Your Knees' Sued for Abuse of Power
Brian Strauss sues to protect his property rights.
Michigan Mayor Offers Seized Money as a Citizen Reward for Drug Snitching. What Could Go Wrong?
Incentives for neighbors to turn on each other. Incentives for police to find reasons to seize people's stuff and keep it.
Does the Colorado River Have Rights?
The river doesn't need rights if people have strong property rights to its water.
2 Years After CBP Took His Truck Because of a Few Forgotten Bullets, Still No Hearing
A new lawsuit argues that owners of vehicles seized at the border have a constitutional right to prompt hearings.
New York Mayor to Property Owners: Drop Dead
De Blasio literally wants to tell people what to do with their land.
Forfeiture Loot Corrupts Justice
When law enforcement agencies make money by seizing property, due process vanishes.
Jeff Sessions Lets Cops Be Robbers
The attorney general revives a program that invites law enforcement agencies to evade state limits on asset forfeiture.
