New on the UC Law Review Blog, Brookelynn Stone discusses how the “American Dream” of homeownership is increasingly out of reach for many Americans as housing costs surge nationwide. She examines how Idaho’s recent legislation seeks to restore affordability and whether state intervention is necessary when local zoning boards fail to act.
Katie Bunch examines the legal regulation of short-term rental platforms under municipal zoning law, analyzing how traditional land use classifications, varying ordinance language, and differing judicial interpretations influence the treatment of Airbnb and Vrbo properties. She evaluates how clearer statutory definitions and balancing approaches could reduce ambiguity and improve consistency in zoning enforcement.
Andrew Pyles discusses the Northern Illinois Transit Authority Act, which forbids local governments from requiring parking around transit stations, focusing on whether states should preempt local land-use laws through sweeping legislation.
Andrew Pyles discusses the new Small Business Administration’s Interim final rule preempting local laws in California that govern rebuilding after the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires. It analyzes whether, under the Supremacy Clause and the framework articulated in Arizona v. United States, federal agencies are permitted to preempt local land-use laws in the absence of a congressional directive.
Molly McInnis examines Maryland’s tenant protection laws through the lens of the recent $11.2 million Heather Hill tenant-landlord housing settlement. The case involved hundreds of tenants who, for years, were forced to live in unsanitary, unsafe, and unlicensed conditions while continuing to pay rent. She examines the current state of Maryland housing law and identifies the gaps in enforcement that may have allowed such conditions to persist. Taking a comparative approach, she evaluates tenant protection laws from other states and local jurisdictions and proposes policy reforms to help Maryland better address and close these gaps. She argues that adopting these reforms would not only strengthen tenant protections in Maryland but ensure accountability for future breaches of landlord duties and responsibilities.
Veterinary professionals routinely encounter ethical issues in the line of their work. In this article, James Hardman explores whether veterinary professionals’ attempts to avoid liability under Ohio larceny laws will result in fewer stolen pets being returned to their rightful owners.
Author Micah Kindred describes how NFTs are impacting real estate transactions and the law.
This excerpt introduces Paul Rando's Student Comment, which argues for an amendment to the FEMA statute to improve the U.S. disaster recovery system.
Photo by Andrea Davis on Unsplash Maddie Blesi, Associate Member, University of Cincinnati Law Review I. Introduction U.S. home prices have increased 18.8% over the past year and are growing six times faster than wages.[1] One of the biggest reasons is the lack of inventory and the high number of potential buyers.[2] The rental economy is facing the... Continue Reading →
Photo by Max Böhme on Unsplash J.P. Burleigh, Associate Member, University of Cincinnati Law Review I. Introduction During the 19th century, Congress granted railroad companies rights of access to build and operate railroads across public lands.[1] After the Interstate Highway System was built, many railroad companies stopped operating and once-busy railroads fell into disuse.[2] The “rail-trail” movement began... Continue Reading →
