Unit 16 Flashcards
Learning Objective: Identify the various types of public and private land-use controls and subdivision regulations.
Answer: Public land-use controls include zoning ordinances, building codes, and environmental protection laws, while private controls include deed restrictions and restrictive covenants, which regulate the use of privately owned land and subdivisions.
Learning Objective: Distinguish the function and characteristics of building codes, subdivision regulations, and zoning ordinances.
Answer: Building codes ensure safety standards for construction; subdivision regulations establish requirements for lot sizes, utilities, and street layouts; zoning ordinances classify land into districts and regulate property uses within those zones.
Learning Objective: Describe how deed restrictions are created, altered, and enforced.
Answer: Deed restrictions are created through agreements by property owners or developers and included in deeds. They can be altered with mutual consent from affected parties. Enforcement typically involves court injunctions if violations occur.
Learning Objective: Explain major environmental legislation and real estate industry green initiatives and their goals for reducing the overall impact on human health and the environment.
Answer: Major environmental legislation includes laws addressing hazardous materials (e.g., asbestos, lead-based paint, and polychlorinated biphenyls) and initiatives promoting sustainable practices, like green building certifications and incentives to improve energy efficiency and occupant health.
Key Term: Buffer Zone
Definition: An area of land separating two different land uses, such as residential and commercial districts.
Key Term: Building Code
Definition: Regulations establishing minimum construction and safety standards for buildings.
Key Term: Building Permit
Definition: Authorization from a municipal authority to begin construction or renovation, ensuring compliance with building codes.
Key Term: Comprehensive Plan
Definition: A long-term plan adopted by a local government to guide community development and land use.
Key Term: Deed Restriction
Definition: A private agreement placed in a deed that limits the use of property.
Key Term: Conditional-Use Permit
Definition: Permission granted to a property owner to use their property in a way not otherwise allowed under the zoning ordinance.
Key Term: Developer
Definition: An individual or company that prepares land for building by constructing infrastructure like streets and utilities.
Key Term: Extraterritorial Jurisdiction
Definition: The area outside a city’s boundaries where it may enforce regulations such as zoning and subdivision standards.
Key Term: Green
Definition: Practices and initiatives aimed at reducing environmental impact and promoting sustainability.
Key Term: Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act
Definition: A federal law requiring developers to provide detailed property reports to prospective buyers for interstate land sales involving 25 or more lots.
Key Term: Laches
Definition: A legal doctrine that prevents a claim from being enforced if there is an unreasonable delay in asserting it.
Key Term: Nonconforming Use
Definition: A use of land that does not conform to current zoning regulations but is allowed to continue because it was established before the zoning changes.
Key Term: Planned Unit Development (PUD)
Definition: A mixed-use development that integrates residential, commercial, and public spaces in a unified plan.
Key Term: Property Owners Association
Definition: An organization formed by property owners in a subdivision or community to enforce rules, maintain common areas, and manage shared services.
Key Term: Public Ownership
Definition: Land owned by government entities, used for public purposes like parks, schools, and government buildings.
Key Term: Restrictive Covenant
Definition: A written agreement that limits the use of land for certain purposes, typically enforced by property owners or associations.
Key Term: Spot Zoning
Definition: The rezoning of a small area within a larger zoning district, often for a use inconsistent with the surrounding area.
Key Term: Variance
Definition: An authorized deviation from the zoning ordinance, granted when strict compliance would cause undue hardship to the property owner.
Key Term: Zoning Board of Adjustment
Definition: A local board that reviews and decides on requests for variances and hears appeals related to zoning ordinance enforcement.
Key Term: Zoning Ordinance
Definition: A law passed by a municipal government to regulate the use of land and buildings within specific areas.
