Skip To Content

Marco A. Martinez is a partner in Best Best & Krieger LLP’s (BBK) Municipal Law practice group, where he advises public agencies on a wide range of legal issues including general municipal law, Brown Act and Public Records Act compliance, land use and zoning laws, the California Subdivision Map Act, state housing laws,  CEQA compliance, First Amendment matters, cannabis regulation, and billboard and sign ordinances. He serves as city attorney for the cities of Azusa and  Shafter, and assistant city attorney for the cities of Colton and Pomona. He also provides special counsel land use services to the Cities of Montclair, Brawley and Paso Robles and to Plumas County.  He has served as general counsel to the California Chapter of the American Planning Association for more than ten years.

Before becoming an attorney, Marco spent over a decade working as a city planner with the City of Downey and the Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning. He was also selected as a California Executive Fellow and assigned to the California Department of Housing and Community Development, where he contributed to statewide housing policy research and reviewed housing element.

Marco is a regular speaker and instructor on land use and planning issues and ethics in local government. In 1988, he authored an HCD research paper titled- “The Effects of Subsidized and Affordable Housing on Property Values: A Survey of Research” (1987) to assist local agencies to increase the production of low and moderate income housing in their communities. 

Professional & Community Involvement
  • Riverside County Bar Association 
  • Riverside Hispanic Chamber of Commerce 
  • American Planning Association
  • International Municipal Lawyers Association 
  • International Conference of Shopping Centers
  • Volunteer Baseball Coach -  Little League & Travel Baseball
  • American Baseball Coaches Association
Thought Leadership
Publications
  • “New Laws Affecting Public Agencies in California,” BBK Legal Alert, Nov. 25, 2013
  • “New Law Gives Local Agencies the Power to Reject Mobile Home Park Conversions,” BBK Legal Alert, Sept. 30, 2013
  • “Court Upholds Town’s Sign Ordinance as Constitutional,” BBK Legal Alert, March 25, 2013

Presentations

  • “AB 1234 & Government Ethics,” League of California Cities New Mayor & Councilmember Academy, Jan. 2025
  • “State Mining & Reclamation Act (SMARA) Compliance & Vested Rights Laws,” California Chapter of the American Planning Association, 2024
  • “AB 602: An Essential Breakdown for Development Impact Fee Programs,” League of California Cities Annual Conference, 2022
  • “SMARA and What Planners Need to Know About Mining and Reclamation Law in California,” American Planning Association California Conference, Sept. 30, 2024
  • “AB 602: An Essential Breakdown for Development Impact Fee Programs,” League of California Cities Annual Conference and Expo, Sept. 8, 2022
  • “Enforcement of Solicitation/Panhandling Regulations and Overview of SB 946 (Sidewalk Vending),” BBK Webinar, Dec. 11, 2018
  • “Ethics for Planners,” American Planning Association, California Chapter Inland Empire Section's Law and Ethics for Planners Event, Nov. 19, 2015

Education & Admissions

Education
Loyola Law School
J.D.
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
B.A., urban planning
Bar Admissions
California

Languages

English
Spanish

Cookie Notice

By clicking “Agree,” you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance website navigation, analyze website usage and assist in our marketing efforts. View our Cookie Notice here.