ACTUAL Exam Questions and CORRECT
Answers
Public Restrictions - CORRECT ANSWER - Limitations on use of real property
associated with government intervention
eminent domain - CORRECT ANSWER - The power given to government agencies to
take private property for public use or purpose
Taxation - CORRECT ANSWER - The right of the government to tax the owners of
private property to raise revenue for both general purposes and special assessments which have a
defined purpose
Escheat - CORRECT ANSWER - The process by which private property reverts to the
government when the owner dies without heirs and without a will
Police power - CORRECT ANSWER - A governments authority to regulate the health,
safety, welfare and morals of its citizens
Planning and zoning law - CORRECT ANSWER - List a variety of actions that every city
and county must undertake to protect that resource
General plan - CORRECT ANSWER - The constitution for land use within that city or
county
Elements - CORRECT ANSWER - Discuss the city's or county's overall goals with respect
to certain topics
, Zoning districts - CORRECT ANSWER - Areas showing all of the possible classification
that might be given to any particular parcel of land
Statement of intent - CORRECT ANSWER - A letter that states the intention for zoned
parcel of land
Allowed uses - CORRECT ANSWER - Activities that a property owner can undertake
without first having to get special permission from my local planning commission zoning
administrator or some other local official or planning body
Conditional use permit - CORRECT ANSWER - A special permit obtain for zoning
purposes that are not allowed as a matter of right
Prohibited uses - CORRECT ANSWER - Any use not listed as either allowed or
conditional
Spot zoning - CORRECT ANSWER - Occurs when a public entity makes the decision to
change the zoning for a single parcel without considering the larger planning context
Height limits - CORRECT ANSWER - State how tall the buildings can be above the
average grade
Setbacks - CORRECT ANSWER - Limit how close a structure can be built to neighboring
property lines
minimum lot size - CORRECT ANSWER - Limits how small the parcels can be if the
property were subdivided.
Legally non conforming uses - CORRECT ANSWER - When a city or county changed the
zoning of a parcel so that the existing uses are no longer allowed by the new zoning