SC S0892

Allows courts to award attorney's fees and costs to property owners/applicants who successfully defend approved zoning decisions (from planning commissions, boards of zoning appeals, or architectural review boards) when appeals are dismissed or decisions are upheld

Creates a presumption that applicants/property owners are entitled to recover fees from appellants when they prevail in defending their approved applications

Excludes special exception decisions from fee recovery eligibility

Caps recoverable fees at the actual amount contracted to pay counsel, limited to reasonable time at a reasonable rate

Establishes five factors for determining reasonable attorney's fees: case difficulty, time devoted, counsel's professional standing, beneficial results obtained, and customary fees for similar services