Business Details
25 Years
experience
Land Use & Property Law Experts in Gig Harbor, WA
Land Use & Property Law is a boutique law firm located in Gig Harbor, Washington, specializing exclusively in land use and property law. Our attorneys bring over 30 years of combined experience to address complex legal challenges faced by individuals, developers, corporations, and small businesses in a rapidly evolving regulatory environment. We provide expertise in land use permitting, subdivision approvals, zoning, environmental law, shoreline management, and property rights advocacy. Our firm represents clients throughout the Puget Sound region, including Gig Harbor, Tacoma, Bremerton, and communities across Pierce, Snohomish, and King Counties.We combine deep legal knowledge with practical solutions to protect property rights, resolve disputes, and navigate government compliance issues. Our attorneys have extensive courtroom experience, including state and federal appellate courts, while prioritizing cost-effective mediation when appropriate. We serve homeowners' associations, agricultural enterprises, and clients requiring water rights or wetland permits, offering quality legal services at affordable rates.
Services
Zoning & Permitting
Environmental Law
Shoreline Management
Government Compliance
Mediation Services
Boundary Disputes
HOA Representation
Water Rights
Land Use Litigation
Recycling Permits
Details
- Year established: 2001
Highlights and features
- Our attorneys have over 30 years of combined experience in land use law.
- We specialize exclusively in property rights and regulatory compliance.
- We offer cost-effective legal solutions for individuals and businesses.
- Our firm provides mediation services to resolve disputes efficiently.
- We have courtroom success in state and federal appellate courts.
Associations and certifications
- FINRA
Services
Zoning & Permitting
We assist clients in obtaining zoning permits and land use approvals for residential, commercial, and industrial developments. Our attorneys navigate complex regulatory frameworks to secure subdivision approvals, conditional use permits, and variances. With decades of experience, we help clients overcome bureaucratic obstacles while ensuring compliance with local, state, and federal regulations.
Environmental Law
Our firm represents clients in environmental law matters involving wetlands, critical areas, and the Forest Practices Act. We secure permits for agricultural operations, biosolids management, and shoreline developments. We challenge arbitrary government actions and advocate for property rights while maintaining compliance with environmental protection standards across Washington State.
Shoreline Management Act
We help clients obtain Shoreline Management Act permits and challenge enforcement actions affecting waterfront properties. Our attorneys have litigated SMA cases before state courts and administrative tribunals, successfully modifying shoreline classifications and invalidating unconstitutional regulations that restrict property rights and development opportunities.
Government Compliance
We defend clients against government enforcement actions and penalty demands under zoning, environmental, and land use laws. Our attorneys challenge unconstitutional fines, such as a $6 million annual penalty case we overturned, and ensure agencies follow their own regulatory procedures when dealing with property owners and businesses.
Mediation Services
Our trained mediators resolve property disputes through cost-effective negotiations, avoiding lengthy litigation. We address boundary conflicts, easement issues, and adverse possession claims while preserving neighborly relationships. Mediation allows clients to control outcomes rather than leaving decisions to courts, typically resolving matters in a single session.
People
Jane Koler
Attorney
Jane Koler has practiced land use law for 30 years, representing clients in zoning permits, government enforcement cases, and property disputes. She graduated from Seattle University Law School cum laude and has litigated in Washington state and federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court.
Mark Adams
Attorney
Mark Adams is a former appellate commissioner with extensive litigation experience. He focuses on appellate law and property rights, serving as a FINRA arbitrator. He earned his law degree from UC Berkeley and contributes to community organizations while representing clients in complex legal matters.
Questions
What areas of law do you specialize in?
We focus exclusively on land use, zoning, property rights, environmental regulations, shoreline management, and related litigation across Washington State.
Do you represent homeowners' associations?
Yes, we assist HOAs with covenant drafting, bylaw interpretation, and enforcement actions while representing individual members in disputes.
Can you help with government penalty disputes?
Our attorneys challenge unconstitutional fines and arbitrary enforcement actions, including a recent case overturning $6 million in annual penalties against a business.
Do you handle agricultural property issues?
We represent farmers with wetland regulations, stream buffers, and Right to Farm Act compliance across Washington State.
What mediation services do you offer?
We resolve boundary disputes, easement conflicts, and adverse possession claims through mediation to avoid costly litigation and preserve relationships.
How do you handle shoreline property disputes?
Our firm secures Shoreline Management Act permits and litigates cases to protect waterfront property rights in local and state courts.
