ROCKWELL FUNDAMENTAL 2026 EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS RATED A+
✔✔The owner of Lot B has an access easement across Lot A. Then the owner of Lot B
buys Lot A. The easement is terminated through: - ✔✔merger
An owner cannot have an easement in her own land. Therefore, if the owner of the
dominant tenement obtains ownership of the servient tenement, the easement is
terminated by merger.
✔✔Lien priority is generally established by recording date, but special priority is given
to: - ✔✔property tax and special assessment liens
✔✔An easement created through long-term use of land without the permission of the
owner is an easement by: - ✔✔prescription
✔✔In Washington, homestead protection: - ✔✔is automatic, beginning as soon as the
owner starts living on the property
✔✔Which of the following is an example of a voluntary lien? - ✔✔A mortgage
A mortgage is voluntary; ad valorem taxes (property taxes) and special assessments
are not. An easement is not a lien.
✔✔A use right for real property that does not include ownership is called: - ✔✔an
easement
✔✔A variance usually will not be granted unless the property owner: - ✔✔faces severe
practical difficulties or undue hardship as a result of the zoning
A variance is authorization to build or maintain a structure or use that is prohibited by
the zoning ordinance. A variance will be granted only if the property owner faces severe
practical difficulties or undue hardship as a result of the zoning.
✔✔If the county takes private property for a public use, it is exercising its: - ✔✔power of
eminent domain
✔✔The government is required to pay just compensation to a property owner: - ✔✔if the
property is taken away by an exercise of the power of eminent domain
✔✔In Washington, general real estate taxes are levied against: - ✔✔all real property,
unless the property is specifically exempt
,✔✔Zoning, planning, building codes, fire ordinances, and environmental regulations are
examples of the government's exercise of its inherent: - ✔✔police power
✔✔A religious congregation wishes to build a house of worship in an area that is zoned
for residential use. The congregation should apply for a: - ✔✔conditional use permit
✔✔The owners of a nonconforming use are typically prohibited from: - ✔✔enlarging the
nonconforming use or rebuilding it if the property is destroyed
There are certain restrictions placed on nonconforming uses, i.e., the owners cannot
enlarge them, rebuild them after a fire, or resume their use after abandoning them.
These restrictions are designed to gradually eliminate nonconforming uses in a way that
is less harmful to the property owner.
✔✔A zoning ordinance may: - ✔✔regulate the height of buildings, have setback
requirements, limit a property to certain uses
Zoning ordinances divide a community into areas that are set aside for certain uses,
regulate the height and size of buildings, and determine setback requirements.
✔✔A rezone is the same thing as a/an: - ✔✔zoning amendment
✔✔After construction is complete, but before a tenant can move into a new facility: -
✔✔a certificate of occupancy must be issued
✔✔A conditional use permit would be most likely to allow: - ✔✔a hospital to be located
in a residential neighborhood
Conditional use permits allow a limited number of special uses, such as hospitals,
schools, and churches, in zones that would normally not allow these uses.
✔✔Before adding a room to a house, the homeowner is usually required to obtain a: -
✔✔building permit
✔✔Unlike general real estate taxes, special assessments are levied: - ✔✔to pay for a
specific improvement
While general real estate taxes are levied every year against all taxable property,
special assessments are levied against particular properties to pay for a specific
improvement. A special assessment is a one-time tax.
,✔✔As a rule, which of the following would NOT be exempt from ad valorem (general
property) taxes? - ✔✔Vacant land
✔✔Which of the following is a federal law that requires an environmental impact
statement to be prepared under certain circumstances? - ✔✔NEPA, the National
Environmental Policy Act, requires an EIS for any government action that would have a
significant impact on the environment.
✔✔Which of the following is the best description of a zoning variance? - ✔✔Permission
from zoning authorities to use or build on property in a way that is not authorized by
current zoning laws
✔✔General real estate taxes are sometimes called ad valorem taxes because they are:
- ✔✔based on the value of the property taxed
✔✔The Ms want to build a garage on their property, but their plans don't meet the local
zoning law's setback requirements. In order to build the garage, they must apply for a: -
✔✔variance
A variance will enable the Ms to make a minor deviation from zoning requirements. It
will be allowed only if the Ms face an undue hardship because of the zoning law and if
the variance will not change the neighborhood's essential character.
✔✔Which of the following laws assigns responsibility for environmental cleanup costs? -
✔✔CERCLA (the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act) is a federal law regarding liability for environmental cleanup costs.
✔✔In Washington, a property owner is expected to pay at least the first half of the
general real estate taxes by: - ✔✔April 30
The first half of the general property taxes are due on April 30; the second half is due on
October 31.
✔✔Which of the following statements best describes the effect of the real estate excise
tax? - ✔✔The seller is required to pay the tax, but the tax will result in a lien against the
buyer's property if the seller doesn't pay it
By law, the seller is liable for the payment of the excise tax, but the unpaid tax creates a
lien against the property, which is now owned by the buyer.
✔✔As a general rule, a zoning law will only be considered constitutional if it: - ✔✔is
related to the protection of the public health, safety, morals, or general welfare
, ✔✔The basis for zoning and other land use control laws is: - ✔✔the government's
police power
✔✔Special assessments levied against a property for local improvements, such as
streetlights and sidewalks, are computed on the basis of: - ✔✔the benefit the property
receives from the improvements
As a rule, special assessments are allocated according to the benefits each property
receives, instead of the market value of the property. Thus a special assessment is not
an ad valorem tax. Sometimes the allocation is based on the front footage of the lot, if
the assessment is levied to pay for storm drains, curbs, and gutters.
✔✔A large property is located in an area zoned for business. A developer builds a
subdivision and includes a restrictive covenant prohibiting offices. If an individual owner
wants to open a real estate office, which is correct? - ✔✔The owner can't open the
office because of the restrictive covenant
The owner will not be able to open the office because the restrictive covenant prohibits
it. If there is a conflict between a zoning ordinance and a covenant, whichever is more
restrictive will prevail.
✔✔The real estate excise tax is: - ✔✔calculated as a percentage of the property's
selling price
The real estate excise tax is based on the property's selling price.
✔✔For zoning purposes, the distance from a lot boundary to the front wall of a building
on the lot is called: - ✔✔the setback
The minimum required distance between a building and the property line is the setback
requirement.
✔✔The central task of a planning commission is to: - ✔✔design a comprehensive plan
for development
✔✔The Washington Land Development Act applies when certain subdivision property is
advertised for sale in this state: - ✔✔even if the property is located in another state
The Washington Land Development Act applies to anyone selling 26 or more
unimproved lots to the public. This is true even when the land is located in another
state, as long as it is promoted in Washington.
AND ANSWERS RATED A+
✔✔The owner of Lot B has an access easement across Lot A. Then the owner of Lot B
buys Lot A. The easement is terminated through: - ✔✔merger
An owner cannot have an easement in her own land. Therefore, if the owner of the
dominant tenement obtains ownership of the servient tenement, the easement is
terminated by merger.
✔✔Lien priority is generally established by recording date, but special priority is given
to: - ✔✔property tax and special assessment liens
✔✔An easement created through long-term use of land without the permission of the
owner is an easement by: - ✔✔prescription
✔✔In Washington, homestead protection: - ✔✔is automatic, beginning as soon as the
owner starts living on the property
✔✔Which of the following is an example of a voluntary lien? - ✔✔A mortgage
A mortgage is voluntary; ad valorem taxes (property taxes) and special assessments
are not. An easement is not a lien.
✔✔A use right for real property that does not include ownership is called: - ✔✔an
easement
✔✔A variance usually will not be granted unless the property owner: - ✔✔faces severe
practical difficulties or undue hardship as a result of the zoning
A variance is authorization to build or maintain a structure or use that is prohibited by
the zoning ordinance. A variance will be granted only if the property owner faces severe
practical difficulties or undue hardship as a result of the zoning.
✔✔If the county takes private property for a public use, it is exercising its: - ✔✔power of
eminent domain
✔✔The government is required to pay just compensation to a property owner: - ✔✔if the
property is taken away by an exercise of the power of eminent domain
✔✔In Washington, general real estate taxes are levied against: - ✔✔all real property,
unless the property is specifically exempt
,✔✔Zoning, planning, building codes, fire ordinances, and environmental regulations are
examples of the government's exercise of its inherent: - ✔✔police power
✔✔A religious congregation wishes to build a house of worship in an area that is zoned
for residential use. The congregation should apply for a: - ✔✔conditional use permit
✔✔The owners of a nonconforming use are typically prohibited from: - ✔✔enlarging the
nonconforming use or rebuilding it if the property is destroyed
There are certain restrictions placed on nonconforming uses, i.e., the owners cannot
enlarge them, rebuild them after a fire, or resume their use after abandoning them.
These restrictions are designed to gradually eliminate nonconforming uses in a way that
is less harmful to the property owner.
✔✔A zoning ordinance may: - ✔✔regulate the height of buildings, have setback
requirements, limit a property to certain uses
Zoning ordinances divide a community into areas that are set aside for certain uses,
regulate the height and size of buildings, and determine setback requirements.
✔✔A rezone is the same thing as a/an: - ✔✔zoning amendment
✔✔After construction is complete, but before a tenant can move into a new facility: -
✔✔a certificate of occupancy must be issued
✔✔A conditional use permit would be most likely to allow: - ✔✔a hospital to be located
in a residential neighborhood
Conditional use permits allow a limited number of special uses, such as hospitals,
schools, and churches, in zones that would normally not allow these uses.
✔✔Before adding a room to a house, the homeowner is usually required to obtain a: -
✔✔building permit
✔✔Unlike general real estate taxes, special assessments are levied: - ✔✔to pay for a
specific improvement
While general real estate taxes are levied every year against all taxable property,
special assessments are levied against particular properties to pay for a specific
improvement. A special assessment is a one-time tax.
,✔✔As a rule, which of the following would NOT be exempt from ad valorem (general
property) taxes? - ✔✔Vacant land
✔✔Which of the following is a federal law that requires an environmental impact
statement to be prepared under certain circumstances? - ✔✔NEPA, the National
Environmental Policy Act, requires an EIS for any government action that would have a
significant impact on the environment.
✔✔Which of the following is the best description of a zoning variance? - ✔✔Permission
from zoning authorities to use or build on property in a way that is not authorized by
current zoning laws
✔✔General real estate taxes are sometimes called ad valorem taxes because they are:
- ✔✔based on the value of the property taxed
✔✔The Ms want to build a garage on their property, but their plans don't meet the local
zoning law's setback requirements. In order to build the garage, they must apply for a: -
✔✔variance
A variance will enable the Ms to make a minor deviation from zoning requirements. It
will be allowed only if the Ms face an undue hardship because of the zoning law and if
the variance will not change the neighborhood's essential character.
✔✔Which of the following laws assigns responsibility for environmental cleanup costs? -
✔✔CERCLA (the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act) is a federal law regarding liability for environmental cleanup costs.
✔✔In Washington, a property owner is expected to pay at least the first half of the
general real estate taxes by: - ✔✔April 30
The first half of the general property taxes are due on April 30; the second half is due on
October 31.
✔✔Which of the following statements best describes the effect of the real estate excise
tax? - ✔✔The seller is required to pay the tax, but the tax will result in a lien against the
buyer's property if the seller doesn't pay it
By law, the seller is liable for the payment of the excise tax, but the unpaid tax creates a
lien against the property, which is now owned by the buyer.
✔✔As a general rule, a zoning law will only be considered constitutional if it: - ✔✔is
related to the protection of the public health, safety, morals, or general welfare
, ✔✔The basis for zoning and other land use control laws is: - ✔✔the government's
police power
✔✔Special assessments levied against a property for local improvements, such as
streetlights and sidewalks, are computed on the basis of: - ✔✔the benefit the property
receives from the improvements
As a rule, special assessments are allocated according to the benefits each property
receives, instead of the market value of the property. Thus a special assessment is not
an ad valorem tax. Sometimes the allocation is based on the front footage of the lot, if
the assessment is levied to pay for storm drains, curbs, and gutters.
✔✔A large property is located in an area zoned for business. A developer builds a
subdivision and includes a restrictive covenant prohibiting offices. If an individual owner
wants to open a real estate office, which is correct? - ✔✔The owner can't open the
office because of the restrictive covenant
The owner will not be able to open the office because the restrictive covenant prohibits
it. If there is a conflict between a zoning ordinance and a covenant, whichever is more
restrictive will prevail.
✔✔The real estate excise tax is: - ✔✔calculated as a percentage of the property's
selling price
The real estate excise tax is based on the property's selling price.
✔✔For zoning purposes, the distance from a lot boundary to the front wall of a building
on the lot is called: - ✔✔the setback
The minimum required distance between a building and the property line is the setback
requirement.
✔✔The central task of a planning commission is to: - ✔✔design a comprehensive plan
for development
✔✔The Washington Land Development Act applies when certain subdivision property is
advertised for sale in this state: - ✔✔even if the property is located in another state
The Washington Land Development Act applies to anyone selling 26 or more
unimproved lots to the public. This is true even when the land is located in another
state, as long as it is promoted in Washington.
