Lucas v. South Carolina Coastal Council

Lucas v. South Carolina Coastal Council was a landmark U.S. Supreme Court case decided in 1992. It involved a landowner, David Lucas, who bought property to develop it, but the state of South Carolina later enacted a law that prohibited building on his land to protect coastal areas. Lucas argued this law effectively took his property without compensation, violating the Fifth Amendment. The Supreme Court ruled in his favor, stating that when regulations eliminate all economic use of land, it may constitute a taking, requiring just compensation for the property owner. This case clarified property rights and government regulation limits.