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42 U.S.C. § 2000cc. <br />City of Woodinville v <br />Northshore United <br />Church of Christ, 162 <br />P 3d 639 (Wash. Ct. <br />App. 2007) ; McGann <br />v Inc. Vill. Of Old <br />Westbury, 719 <br />N.Y.S.2d 803 (N.Y. <br />Sup. 2000). <br />Cities cannot enact, amend, or enforce a zoning ordinance that has the effect <br />of altering the existing density, lot -size requirements, or manufactured home <br />set back requirements in any manufactured home park constructed before <br />January 1, 1995, if the manufactured home park, when constructed, complied <br />with the then existing density, lot -size and setback requirements, if any. <br />3. Federal law considerations: The Religious <br />Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act <br />The Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) of <br />2000 provides that no government entity shall impose or implement a land <br />use regulation in a manner that puts a substantial burden on the religious <br />exercise of a person, religious assembly or religious institution, unless the <br />government can show the burden is in furtherance of a compelling <br />government interest and is the least restrictive means of furthering that <br />interest. This means that if a religious use may be, in some circumstances, <br />exempted from city zoning requirements if the regulation substantially <br />burdens the religious organization or person's exercise of religion. <br />RLUIPA also provides that no government may impose or implement a land <br />use regulation in a manner that: <br />• Treats a religious assembly or institution on less than equal terms with a <br />nonreligious assembly or institution. For example, a zoning ordinance <br />that allows community centers and fraternal organization centers in a <br />particular district, but not a religious center (such as a church, mosque or <br />synagogue), whose use would be strikingly similar to the other allowed <br />uses. <br />• Discriminates against any assembly or institution on the basis of religion <br />or religious denomination. <br />• Totally excludes religious assemblies from their jurisdiction or <br />unreasonably limits religious assemblies, institutions, or structures <br />within a jurisdiction. <br />Activities beyond worship services for religious institutions may potentially <br />be protected by the RLUIPA, including schools and childcare. However, this <br />is an unsettled area of the current law. <br />ZONING GUIDE FOR CITIES 15 <br />