Supreme Court Will Define When Zoning Restrictions “Substantially Burden” Religious Exercise Under RLUIPA
October 5, 2026 By Peter Friedman Some of the most difficult municipal land use decisions are those that involve requests […]
Insights
Supreme Court to Decide When First Amendment Claims Can Bypass the Local Zoning Process
September 9, 2026 By Peter Friedman The United States Supreme Court has scheduled oral argument for December 9, 2026, in […]
Crain’s Chicago Business: Winnetka’s lakefront mansion owners lose another round on bluff-protection ordinance
By Dennis Rodkin September 4, 2026 Owners of lakefront mansions in Winnetka lost another, and possibly final, round in their […]
Chicago Tribune: Federal judge dismisses refiled Winnetka homeowner lawsuit over lake bluffs
By Claire Murphy September 3, 2026 Federal claims filed by a group of 25 Winnetka homeowners over regulations restricting what […]
Summer 2026: New Recognitions and New Attorneys for Elrod Friedman
We are honored that Chambers USA, America’s Leading Business Lawyers Guide and highly respected lawyer rating service, has once again […]
New Illinois Law Preempts Local Regulation of Alcohol Delivery
August 3, 2026 By Marcus Martinez On December 12, 2025, Governor JB Pritzker signed Senate Bill 618 into law as […]
Business District and Tax Increment Financing Update
July 21, 2026 By Caitlyn R. Culbertson and Hart M. Passman Business district and tax increment financing are potent economic […]
Chicago Sun-Times: Council committee backs Susan Cappello for city’s Animal Care and Control chief
By Fran Spielman March 10, 2026 A City Council committee on Tuesday advanced Mayor Brandon Johnson’s choice to lead Chicago’s overburdened and […]
Building Blocks of the BUILD Agenda: Part 6: Senate Bill 4063 and the Third-Party Plan Review and Inspection Framework
March 3, 2026 By Hart M. Passman and Hannah R. Saed As the last installment of our series analyzing the […]
Building Blocks of the BUILD Agenda; Part 5: Impact Mitigation Fees
March 2, 2026 By Gregory T. Smith and Caitlyn R. Culbertson As the fifth installment of our ongoing series analyzing […]
Building Blocks of the BUILD Agenda; Part 4: Initiative Attempts to Address the “Missing Middle”
February 27, 2026 By Jeffrey Butcher and Brooke Lenneman As the fourth installment of our ongoing series analyzing the legislative […]
Building Blocks of the BUILD Agenda; Part 3: Building Code Authority Amended to Allow “Single-Stairway Exception” for Multi-Unit Residential Buildings
February 26, 2026 By Kelley A. Gandurski and Jamie T. Porter As the third installment of our ongoing series analyzing […]
Building Blocks of the BUILD Agenda; Part 2: Initiative Imposes Minimum Parking Requirements
February 24, 2026 By Peter Friedman and Marcus Martinez As the second installment of our ongoing series analyzing the legislative […]
Building Blocks of the BUILD Agenda; Part 1: A New Framework for Accessory Dwelling Units
February 23, 2026 By Kelsea Neal Nolot As the first installment of our ongoing series analyzing the legislative components of […]
Governor Pritzker Introduces Building Up Illinois Developments (BUILD) Legislative Agenda
February 20, 2026 By Stewart J. Weiss During his annual State of the State Address this week, Governor JB Pritzker […]
Elrod Friedman Rings in 2026 With New Municipality and New Attorney
January 1, 2026 Welcome the Village of Skokie The Village of Skokie Board of Trustees voted unanimously to appoint […]
The Record North Shore: Village of Skokie finds new law firm
By Samuel Lisec December 17, 2025 The Skokie Village Board voted unanimously this week on new legal representation. The trustees […]
Chicago Federal Court Applies Lindke Test in Devore v. McCombie to Dismiss Social Media First Amendment Claim Against Public Official
November 26, 2025 By Jamie Porter A recent decision from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, […]
One of the Bills to Reopen the Federal Government Closes the “Hemp Loophole” Nationwide
November 13, 2025 By Stew Weiss On Wednesday November 12, 2025, Congress passed and the President signed into law a […]
Illinois General Assembly Adopts “People Over Parking” Act Overriding Municipal Authority Over Parking Minimums in Transit-Served Areas
November 3, 2025 By Stew Weiss In the early morning hours of October 31, 2025, the Illinois General Assembly passed […]
Appellate Court Upholds Dismissal of Homeowners’ Flooding Lawsuit Against Village
October 31, 2025 By Stephen A. Viz In August 2025, the Illinois Appellate Court for the Third District affirmed the […]
New Legislation Broadens Powers of Administrative Law Judges, Creating New Options for Municipal Enforcement Efforts
August 21, 2025 By Kelley A. Gandurski On August 15, Governor Pritzker signed into law House Bill 1842 expanding the […]
Federal Court Dismisses Challenge to Illinois Sanctuary Policies, Upholding Local Control Over Immigration Enforcement
August 7, 2025 By Kelsea Neal Nolot On July 25, 2025, the United States District Court for the Northern District […]
Tax Increment Financing Update
July 30, 2025 By Gregory T. Smith Tax increment financing is a potent economic development tool for Illinois municipalities. The […]
Downstate Appellate Court Affirms Municipal Towing Fees
July 9, 2025 By Hart M. Passman Most reported court decisions have little, if anything, to do with municipal or […]
The Freedom of Information Act is Breaking In the Digital Age—It Needs to be Fixed
June 3, 2025 By Benjamin L. Schuster The Circuit Court for McHenry County, Illinois recently entered what may be a […]
Legislative Update: Illinois Senate’s Solution to Squatters Might Put Pressure on Police
May 6, 2025 By Brooke D. Lenneman Illinois Senate Bill 1563, which proposes a streamlined approach for the removal of […]
Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest: Greg Smith takes over as permanent village attorney
By Brendan Heffernan – Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest April 1, 2025 After nearly 8 months, Oak […]
Scooter Statute and Municipal Authority
March 19, 2025 By Hannah R. Saed Until the summer of 2024, the State of Illinois did not regulate electric […]
Elrod Friedman LLP Welcomes the Village of Oak Park, IL to Its Local Government Family
On March 11, 2025, the Village of Oak Park Board of Trustees voted unanimously to officially appoint Elrod Friedman LLP […]
Chicago Tribune: Court upholds legality of Waukegan tax on gaming machines; city due $11M
By Steve Sadin – Chicago Tribune March 11, 2025 After more than four years of defending a lawsuit against video […]
Daily Herald: ‘On the right path’: Hayes thinks Bears will choose Arlington Heights
By Christopher Placek – Daily Herald March 13, 2025 In his final state of the village address, Arlington Heights Mayor […]
Cannabis, Intoxicating Hemp, and CBD – One Plant, Many Problems
February 25, 2025 By Stew Weiss In the past few years, communities across the nation have seen a proliferation of […]
Illinois Supreme Court Upholds Broad Authority for Municipalities to Impose Road Improvement Impact Fees on Development Projects
November 24, 2024 By Peter M. Friedman In its unanimous November 21, 2024 decision in Habdab, LLC v. County of […]
Elrod Friedman Welcomes Stephen A. Viz
Highly respected eminent domain, land use and zoning litigator, Steve Viz, has joined Elrod Friedman LLP. For more than 30 […]
City’s “Criticism Policy” Faces Uphill Legal Challenge Under the First Amendment
October 28, 2024 By Courtney P. Willits Last month, Rebekah Massie, a private citizen, brought a federal lawsuit against the […]
Supreme Court Upholds Oregon Anti-Camping Ordinance: City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Gloria Johnson, et al.
July 8, 2024 By Caitlyn Culbertson On Friday, June 28, 2024, the United States Supreme Court issued its opinion in […]
Chicago Tribune: Naperville planners OK reuse of former LA Fitness building for Advocate Health Care medical outpatient facility; Peter Friedman and Caitlyn Culbertson as entitlement counsel
By Tess Kenny – Chicago Tribune April 5, 2024 A building in Naperville’s Freedom Commons complex that hasn’t been actively […]
Journal & Topics: Peter Friedman and Brooke Lenneman Succeed on Motion to Dismiss All Constitutional Claims against Des Plaines in Campgrounds Litigation
By Todd Wessell – Journal & Topics April 5, 2024 In a stinging rebuke of assertions made by leaders of […]
Supreme Court Issues Opinion on Social Media Practices Affecting Public Officials
March 21, 2024 By Kelsea Neal Nolot and Marcus Martinez On March 15, 2024, the United States Supreme Court issued […]
New Accessibility Guidelines for Pedestrian Facilities in Public Rights-of-Way Could Require Local Government Action
February 6, 2024 By Kelsea Neal Nolot Under a series of recent U.S. District Court cases and new administrative rulemaking, […]
Elrod Friedman LLP Welcomes Courtney P. Willits
Courtney is an experienced municipal and land use attorney who counsels Illinois local governments on a wide range of topics, […]
Elrod Friedman LLP Continues to Grow – Welcome to our Law Clerks and Future Attorneys
Hannah R. Saed Kelsea Neal Nolot Hannah and Kelsea are Third Year Law Students at Chicago-Kent College of […]
NBC Channel 5 News Interview with Steven Elrod regarding statewide assault weapon ban legislation
Illinois Lawmakers Mull Assault Weapons Ban as Lame Duck Session Nears End Six months after a mass shooting at the […]
Crain’s Chicago Business: Chicago, suburbs will combine economic development pitch
By Greg Hinz – Crain’s Chicago Business In an unusual display of regional unity, top elected officials from the metropolitan […]
Elrod Friedman LLP Welcomes Greg Smith
The law firm of Elrod Friedman LLP is proud to announce that Greg Smith has joined the firm as a […]
Amendments to Illinois’ Foreign Fire Insurance License Fee Program Prohibit Municipal Regulation but Provide Much Needed Clarity
December 2, 2022 By Brooke D. Leneman In May, 2022, the Illinois General Assembly approved Public Act 102-0740 (“Act”), which dramatically […]
NBC Chicago: NBC-Channel 5 News Investigative Report on Assault Weapon Bans featuring Steven Elrod
By Phil Rogers – NBC Chicago Just months after the deadly mass shooting at Highland Park’s Fourth of July […]
FEMA Announces New Local Elected and Appointed Officials Guide for Emergency and Disaster Preparedness
November 1, 2022 By Kelley A. Gandurski Last month, FEMA published a new guide (linked here) for local government senior […]
Crain’s Chicago Business: Gidwitz family to build nearly 500 apartments in Skokie
By Alby Gallun – Crain’s Chicago Business The Gidwitz family wants to build nearly 500 apartments on a busy […]
Meet the Recent Additions to the Elrod Friedman Team of Lawyers:
Caitlyn R. Culbertson Kelley A. Gandurski Caitlyn is an experienced municipal and land use attorney who has counseled Illinois local […]
The Chicago Bar Association’s @theBar (Podcast): Mass Shooting in Highland Park: An Interview with Mayor Nancy Rotering and Corporation Counsel Steve Elrod
HOSTED BY JONATHAN AMARILIO AND TRISHA RICH On the morning of July 4, 2022, thousands of people were gathered to […]
Chicago Tribune: Lincolnwood clears the way for hotel at District 1860 development, where Purple Hotel stood
By Daniel I. Dorfman – Chicago Tribune Plans are now in place for a new hotel to be constructed […]
Chicago City Council Expands Transit-Served Location Zoning Regulations
July 26, 2022 By Liz Butler On July 20, 2022, the Chicago City Council adopted the Equitable Transit Oriented Development […]
Chicago Tribune: Signs of change in gun-maker suits – Liability cases in Gary, Newtown offer hope for Highland Park
By John Keilman Chicago Tribune As Highland Park officials ponder their legal response to the Independence Day mass shooting […]
U.S. Supreme Court Strikes Down New York State Gun Licensing Law: A Summary of New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc., et al. v. Bruen, Superintendent of New York State Police, et al.
June 27, 2022 By Caitlyn R. Culbertson In 1905, the State of New York adopted a law requiring all persons […]
Chicago Daily Law Bulletin: Seminar welcomes government officials
Lincolnwood Trustee Atour Sargon, from left, Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering, Libertyville Mayor Donna Johnson and Steven Elrod, […]
Illinois General Assembly Approves Revisions to Special Property Tax Assessment Legislation for Affordable Rental Housing
April 4, 2022 By Liz Butler On Friday April 1, 2022, the Illinois General Assembly passed Senate Bill 3895 (the “2022 Amendment”), an […]
Lobbying Local Government Officials Now Triggers Registration Requirements
March 30, 2022 By Liz Butler and Peter Friedman New for 2022, Illinois has enacted a significant change to the […]
Local Government Board Censures Do Not Violate First Amendment: United States Supreme Court
March 28, 2022 BY MARCUS MARTINEZ In our current climate of political polarization, there are few things on which the […]
FEDERAL VACCINE MANDATE UPDATE: Local Public Employers Should Prepare to Comply – Supreme Court to Hear Oral Arguments This Week
January 5, 2021 BY BROOKE LENNEMAN I. Applicability to State and Local Government Employers: The federal vaccine mandate […]
Chicago Sun-Times: Zoning panel backs NW Side housing deal over alderperson’s opposition
Striking a blow for the mayor against aldermanic veto power over zoning in their wards, a City Council committee Tuesday […]
U.S. Supreme Court Considers Constitutionality of “Off-Premise” Sign Regulations Under First Amendment
December 7, 2021 BY BRAEDEN LORD On November 10, 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in City of […]
New Whistleblower Statute Imposes Local Government Obligations
November 23, 2021 BY BROOKE LENNEMAN Public Act 101-0652, known as the SAFE-T ACT, amended the Illinois Public Officer Prohibited […]
Chicago Tribune: Deerfield’s assault weapons ban upheld by deadlocked Illinois Supreme Court
Without a majority decision from the Illinois Supreme Court, the possession of specific types of “assault weapons” will remain illegal […]
Elrod Friedman LLP included in the 2022 U.S. News & World Report – “Best Law Firms” guide
Elrod Friedman LLP has been included in the 2022 U.S. News & World Report – “Best Law Firms” guide. Elrod […]
US Supreme Court to Decide Whether a Local Government Board Can Censure One of its Members
September 29, 2021 BY PETER FRIEDMAN On November 2, 2021, the US Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Houston […]
Elrod Friedman LLP Announces Two New Local Government Engagements
On October 5, the Village Board of the Village of Arlington Heights voted unanimously to officially appoint Elrod Friedman LLP […]
Elrod Friedman LLP Welcomes Marcus Martinez
The law firm of Elrod Friedman LLP is proud to announce that Marcus Martinez has joined the firm, focusing his […]
Attention Cook County Property Tax Incentive Recipients: New Chicago Annual Reporting Requirements Go into Effect August 1, 2021
July 6, 2021 BY LIZ BUTLER Beginning August 1, 2021, any recipient of City of Chicago consent and support for […]
Chambers USA Awards Highest Ranking to Elrod Friedman LLP
Chambers USA, America’s Leading Business Lawyers Guide and highly respected lawyer rating service, has ranked Elrod Friedman LLP in Band […]
Chicago Tribune: Waukegan City Council Votes to Approve Hire of Elrod Friedman as the City’s New Corporation Counsel
A relatively new city resident — who is nearly 20 years younger than all his colleagues on the Waukegan City […]
Yes, In My Backyard: Chicago’s Additional Dwelling Unit (ADU) Pilot Program in Effect as of May 1, 2021
May 4, 2021 BY LIZ BUTLER Chicago’s Additional Dwelling Unit Ordinance (“ADU Ordinance”) went into effect on May 1, 2021. […]
Revisions to the City of Chicago Affordable Requirements Ordinance Set for a Hearing on April 15, 2021
April 12, 2021 BY LIZ BUTLER The City of Chicago’s Affordable Requirements Ordinance, in its current form, has been in […]
A Proposed Change to Chicago Zoning Rules May Authorize Future Residential Uses in Fulton Market
MARCH 31, 2021 BY LIZ BUTLER AND HART PASSMAN (Image source: City of Chicago Kinzie Industrial Corridor – Fulton […]
Chicago City Council Adopts Mayor’s Air Quality Ordinance Including Sweeping New Zoning Rules for Industrial Developments
BY LIZ BUTLER AND PETER FRIEDMAN On March 24, 2021, the Chicago City Council adopted Ordinance 2020-4590, an amendment to […]
Fulton Market Innovation District Plan Update Promotes Residential Development North of Lake Street and May Expand Reach of Transit-Served Location Ordinance
BY LIZ BUTLER AND HART PASSMAN Fulton Market Innovation District Study Area, 2020. (Source: Fulton Market Innovation District Plan […]
2016 Transportation Lockbox Constitutional Amendment Does Not Restrict Home Rule Taxes
BY PETER FRIEDMAN In the November 2016 general election, Illinois voters approved a constitutional amendment known as the “Safe Roads […]
Considerations for Employers Concerning COVID-19 Vaccinations
BY ANDREW FISKE As COVID-19 vaccinations begin, employers are considering whether they can – or should – require employees to […]
U.S. Supreme Court Tightens Scrutiny on Regulations Impacting Religion
BY PETER FRIEDMAN Just before midnight on the night before Thanksgiving, the United States Supreme Court temporarily enjoined New York […]
Daily Herald: Arlington Heights hires new village attorney
Arlington Heights officials have hired a group of lawyers who were mentored by the late, longtime village attorney Jack Siegel […]
Litigation Update: State and Federal Courts Continue to Uphold the Constitutionality of COVID-19 Executive Orders (with the exception of the Clay County Circuit Court)
BY JEFFREY MONTELEONE AND PETER FRIEDMAN Two notable court decisions decided recently upheld the constitutionality and enforceability of Governor Pritzker’s […]
New State Law Creates COVID-Specific Disability Benefits Extension and Increases Protections for Retail Employees
BY ANDREW FISKE Public employers should note that Public Act 101-0651 (“Act”), signed by Governor Pritzker on August 7, 2020, […]
New Emergency Proclamation and Executive Orders Move Illinois Into Phase 4
On Friday June 26, 2020, Governor Pritzker issued a new Emergency Disaster Proclamation and Executive Orders 2020-43 and 2020-44, officially […]
Best Practices for Public Participation in Virtual Public Meetings and Public Hearings
By Stewart J. Weiss & Andrew N. Fiske In the short interim since Governor Pritzker issued a statewide “Stay at […]
Governor Pritzker’s Open Meetings Act Suspension Authorized Under State Law During Covid-19 Emergency
By Peter Friedman, Jeffrey Monteleone, and Benjamin Schuster On March 13, 2020, Governor Pritzker issued Executive Order 2020-07 pursuant to […]
Illinois General Assembly Formally Relaxes Open Meetings Act
In March 2020, shortly after issuing his first proclamation of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Pritzker issued an […]
Coronavirus Local Government Impacts: Action Items and Analysis
The COVID-19 coronavirus is at the forefront of public concern. Information and guidance at the federal and state levels continues […]
Crain’s Chicago Business: Holland & Knight’s Steven Elrod to Form New Law Firm
Big law firm billing pressures are spotlighted in an exodus by a former Cook County sheriff’s son and nine other […]
Chicago Daily Law Bulletin: Holland & Knight Group Leaves to Start Elrod Friedman
A group of 10 attorneys are leaving Holland. & Knight LLPs municipal government practice to form a new boutique firm […]
Patch: North Shore Municipal Attorneys Form New Boutique Law Firm
The founding partners of the Illinois government law and land use practice at Holland & Knight brought their whole team […]