A unanimous Supreme Court on Friday ruled (Sheetz v. County of El Dorado) that the Fifth Amendment’s Takings Clause applies to legislatures that impose excessive fees. This is an important constraint on greedy governments. The case involved California land owner George Sheetz, who was required to pay a $23,420 fee for a local permit to build a small home. El Dorado County’s board of supervisors claimed the fee was necessary to cover the costs of expanding public roads to reduce congestion. Mr. Sheetz sued in state court, arguing the fee was excessive and violated the Takings Clause.
