PSI Exam: Land use controls and
regulations
Government Powers (4 total) - correct answer ✔✔Police power, taxation, eminent domain, and escheat
Police power - correct answer ✔✔state's authority to provide for the general welfare of the community
through legislature and range of enabling acts/statutes that authorize agencies to organize, implement,
and enforce obligation.
Zoning - correct answer ✔✔primary mechanism for municipalities to implement police power by
establishing regulations controlling how land is used. Begins with a master plan, or comprehensive plan,
or general plan.
Taxation - correct answer ✔✔government power to raise revenue for municipal expenses, like schools
and roads; governmental right to set taxes allows a municipality to assess properties, levy taxes, and sell
the property if taxes go unpaid.
General real estate taxes - correct answer ✔✔"ad valorem", are taxed at value, so those with higher
assessed value pay more than those with a lesser value.
Special assessment tax - correct answer ✔✔with certain improvements; sidewalk, streetlight
Eminent domain - correct answer ✔✔taking of title to real property for use, public or private, that
benefits the community's interest. Involuntary alienation of property (1) process of condemnation (2)
payment of just compensation
Escheat - correct answer ✔✔transfer of property ownership from an individual to the state when the
individual dies intestate, without a will, and with no known heirs. It reverts to the state. Also can refer to
bank accounts, and can be claimed if heir appears.
Nonconforming use - correct answer ✔✔continuing a prior use after a zoning change
regulations
Government Powers (4 total) - correct answer ✔✔Police power, taxation, eminent domain, and escheat
Police power - correct answer ✔✔state's authority to provide for the general welfare of the community
through legislature and range of enabling acts/statutes that authorize agencies to organize, implement,
and enforce obligation.
Zoning - correct answer ✔✔primary mechanism for municipalities to implement police power by
establishing regulations controlling how land is used. Begins with a master plan, or comprehensive plan,
or general plan.
Taxation - correct answer ✔✔government power to raise revenue for municipal expenses, like schools
and roads; governmental right to set taxes allows a municipality to assess properties, levy taxes, and sell
the property if taxes go unpaid.
General real estate taxes - correct answer ✔✔"ad valorem", are taxed at value, so those with higher
assessed value pay more than those with a lesser value.
Special assessment tax - correct answer ✔✔with certain improvements; sidewalk, streetlight
Eminent domain - correct answer ✔✔taking of title to real property for use, public or private, that
benefits the community's interest. Involuntary alienation of property (1) process of condemnation (2)
payment of just compensation
Escheat - correct answer ✔✔transfer of property ownership from an individual to the state when the
individual dies intestate, without a will, and with no known heirs. It reverts to the state. Also can refer to
bank accounts, and can be claimed if heir appears.
Nonconforming use - correct answer ✔✔continuing a prior use after a zoning change
