In a case caption Smith v. Ivy Lee Real Estate, LLC, the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania was faced with the question if Section 617 of the MPC permits a private cause of action to enforce a subdivision land development ordinance (SALDO). In the case, the Smith family alleged that Ivy Lee, who was their neighbor, engaged in construction activities that constituted land development under the township’s SALDO. The Smith family requested, among other things, a permanent injunction against Ivy Lee preventing construction activities unless and until Ivy Lee obtains the required SALDO approvals. The Smith family contended that, even though the township refused to enforce the SALDO, the Smith family had a right to bring a private enforcement action under Section 617 of the MPC.

The trial court determined that Section 617 creates a private cause of action solely for zoning violations, but ruled that the Smith family does not have standing to enforce the SALDO pursuant to Section 617 of the MPC. However, the Commonwealth Court found, in reviewing the language of Section 617 of the MPC and certain case law concerning it, that the plain language of Section 617 permits a private cause of action to enforce an alleged violation of any ordinance enacted under the MPC, including a SALDO.

The net of this case is that landowners can bring a private action against another landowner for their failure to comply with ordinances enacted under the MPC, including their failure to obtain land development approval. From a practical standpoint, given the broad definition of land development in the MPC and many municipal ordinances, there may be more instances where a municipality determines that land development approval is not required (such as for a change in use), but a private party might see otherwise and now, based on this case, has a right to bring their own private action against the violating landowner.

[View source.]