Land Use & Zoning Flashcards
7 cards from real Real Estate practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Land Use & Zoning flashcards as text
What government power provides the legal basis for zoning regulations?
Answer: Police power
Police power allows state and local governments to enact laws that protect the public's health, safety, morals, and general welfare, which includes zoning regulations.
A property that legally existed before a zoning ordinance was enacted but does not conform to the new zoning rules is called a:
Answer: Nonconforming use
A nonconforming use is a property or land use that predates a zoning ordinance and is allowed to continue even though it no longer complies with current zoning requirements.
A property owner requests permission to build a fence 2 feet from the property line instead of the required 5-foot setback. What must they apply for?
Answer: A variance
A variance is a grant of permission to deviate from specific zoning requirements, such as setback distances, when strict compliance would cause undue hardship.
A minimum required distance between a structure and the property line is known as a:
Answer: Setback
A setback is the minimum distance a building or structure must be placed from a property line, street, or other boundary as specified by zoning codes.
Spot zoning is generally considered illegal because it:
Answer: Singles out one parcel for treatment inconsistent with surrounding zoning
Spot zoning is typically invalid because it grants a single parcel a zoning classification inconsistent with the surrounding area without a reasonable basis, which courts view as arbitrary and discriminatory.
Which type of zoning allows for a mix of residential and commercial uses in a coordinated development with flexible internal standards?
Answer: Planned Unit Development (PUD)
A Planned Unit Development (PUD) allows developers to mix land uses and vary building placements within an overall plan, providing flexibility not available under standard zoning.
A buffer zone in zoning is primarily used to:
Answer: Separate incompatible land uses such as industrial and residential areas
Buffer zones are areas of land used to separate incompatible land uses, reducing conflicts between zones such as placing a park or landscaped strip between a factory and a neighborhood.