Land Use

Question 1

A term meaning parcels of land that share a common border.

Answer 1

Abutting

Question 2

A mother-in-law suite is an example of this.

Answer 2

Accessory apartment use

Question 3

A use incidental to the main purpose of a property.

Answer 3

Accessory use

Question 4

The act of taking property under eminent domain.

Answer 4

Condemnation

Question 5

Legal loss of a right with the thought that “if you don’t use it, you lose it.”

Answer 5

Doctrine of laches

Question 6

The power of the government to take private property for public use.

Answer 6

Eminent domain

Question 7

The power of the government to claim a deceased person’s estate when no will, heirs or creditors are found.

Answer 7

Escheat

Question 8

It can mean one or more persons living as a single housekeeping unit.

Answer 8

Family, as defined by law

Question 9

An owner of a small business using the owner’s residential property to conduct business.

Answer 9

Home occupation

Question 10

Organization that oversees the entire environmental impact evaluation.

Answer 10

Lead agency

Question 11

Governmental authority to provide for the health, safety and welfare of its citizens.

Answer 11

Police power

Question 12

A promise between two parties appearing on a deed that specifies what may or may not be done with the real property.

Answer 12

Restrictive covenant

Question 13

A move by a governmental body that deprives a landowner of the economically viable use of the property and results in the owner not being able to obtain a reasonable return on investment.

Answer 13

“Taking” as defined by the courts

Question 14

Program that encourages a shift in growth away from agricultural or environmentally sensitive regions to more appropriate areas.

Answer 14

Transfer of development rights

Question 15

A residential facility for five or more adults who have been institutionalized for various reasons and then released.

Answer 15

Group home

Question 16

A lien due to a court decree resulting from a lawsuit

Answer 16

Judgment lien

Question 17

A legal notice that a lawsuit is pending that affects the title of a property. This serves as warning to prospective buyers that a pending lawsuit could impact title.

Answer 17

Lis pendens

Question 18

The IRS will file a general lien against all property belonging to that person for various taxes owed and unpaid.

Answer 18

Income tax liens

Question 19

Created by the property owner or with the property owner’s consent

Answer 19

Voluntary lien

Question 20

When a property owner doesn’t pay for work that was performed the worker can file this lien to collect the money owed to them.

Answer 20

Mechanic’s lien

Question 21

A lien created without the property owner’s consent (e.g., property tax lien or mechanic’s lien)

Answer 21

A lien created without the property owner’s consent (e.g., property tax lien or mechanic’s lien)

Question 22

Claims against a specific property, identifiable property (the most common type of this lien is a mortgage)

Answer 22

Specific (or special) lien

Question 23

Claims against a person and all of that person’s property. This type of lien occurs as a judgment against that person.

Answer 23

General lien

Question 24

A lien created on the property used as collateral for a loan to purchase a home

Answer 24

Mortgage lien

Question 25

When an owner does not pay property taxes a lien is levied against that property

Answer 25

Property tax lien

Question 26

Prepares and amends the master plan for the community, and implements that plan through site plan and subdivision ordinances and recommendations to other agencies; investigates, maps, reports and makes recommendations relating to planning and development of the municipality, and recommends amendments to the zoning ordinance or map

Answer 26

Planning board

Question 27

Local rules that divide a city or community into different areas and dictate how the land in each area can be used

Answer 27

Zoning

Question 28

A strip of land used to separate land dedicated to one use from land of another use (for instance, residential from commercial). Often, the buffer zone is a green space or other dedicated land, such as a park.

Answer 28

Buffer zone

Question 29

Three types of special land use zoning

Answer 29

Incentive zoning, bulk zoning, and aesthetic zoning

Question 30

Permission to use the land for a purpose prohibited by current zoning restrictions

Answer 30

Use variance

Question 31

Allows a property to be used in a way that isn’t in accordance with zoning regulations

Answer 31

Special use permit

Question 32

A use that no longer conforms with new or changed zoning; its use is allowed through the concept of grandfathering.

Answer 32

Nonconforming use

Question 33

Zoning map, text describing zoning classifications

Answer 33

Zoning ordinance

Question 34

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (Superfund) 1980: to facilitate the clean-up of any abandoned or uncontrolled sites containing hazardous substances and to impose strict liability for clean-up costs on potentially responsible parties

Answer 34

CERCLA

Question 35

Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act; amended CERCLA to limit new owners’ liability for clean-up when due diligence was performed prior to purchase

Answer 35

SARA

Question 36

Statement federal law requires from all agencies for any project using federal funds to assess the potential affect of the new construction or development on the environment.

Answer 36

Environmental impact statement

Question 37

Standards for construction and safety of buildings

Answer 37

Building code

Question 38

Encourages private developers to provide amenities for public use in exchange for opportunity to build larger or taller structures on a site.

Answer 38

Incentive zoning

Question 39

Zoning for beauty or appearance

Answer 39

Aestetic Zoning