Texas Urban Planner Licensing Practice
Exam Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales
|2026 Q&A | Instant Download Pdf
1. Which of the following best describes the purpose of a comprehensive
plan?
A. To enforce zoning regulations
B. To provide a long-term vision for growth and development
C. To establish tax rates for property owners
D. To approve building permits
A comprehensive plan outlines the community's long-term goals and
objectives, guiding future development and decision-making.
2. The Standard State Zoning Enabling Act (1920s) is significant because:
A. It provided the legal basis for subdivision regulations
B. It authorized local governments to adopt zoning ordinances
C. It limited state control over local land use
D. It introduced environmental impact assessments
,This act empowered local governments to regulate land use through
zoning, forming the foundation of modern planning in the U.S.
3. In Texas, which entity typically adopts the comprehensive plan?
A. The city manager
B. The city council
C. The planning commission
D. The zoning board of adjustment
City councils in Texas municipalities have the legal authority to adopt
comprehensive plans.
4. Which of the following is not a typical element of a comprehensive
plan?
A. Land use
B. Banking regulations
C. Transportation
D. Housing
Banking regulations are not included in comprehensive plans, which focus
on physical and community development.
5. In Texas, cities can exercise extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) to:
A. Enforce tax collection
B. Approve school zoning boundaries
C. Regulate development outside city limits
D. Rezone properties without consent
,ETJs allow cities to regulate development just outside their corporate
boundaries, often for platting and subdivision control.
6. Which U.S. Supreme Court case upheld the constitutionality of zoning?
A. Nollan v. California Coastal Commission
B. Village of Euclid v. Ambler Realty Co.
C. Dolan v. City of Tigard
D. Kelo v. City of New London
Euclid v. Ambler (1926) affirmed that zoning was a valid use of police
power.
7. A zoning ordinance is considered invalid if it is:
A. Politically unpopular
B. Environmentally strict
C. Compliant with a comprehensive plan
D. Arbitrary and capricious
Zoning must be based on a rational basis. Arbitrary and capricious zoning
violates constitutional due process.
8. Which planning tool is most often used to regulate the intensity of
land use?
A. Design guidelines
B. Floor Area Ratio (FAR)
C. Setback requirements
D. Infrastructure capacity analysis
, FAR limits the amount of floor space relative to lot size, directly regulating
land use intensity.
9. Under the AICP Code of Ethics, planners must:
A. Prioritize private property rights above all
B. Serve the public interest and provide full, clear, and accurate
information
C. Avoid any form of government employment
D. Accept gifts under $50
Planners are bound to uphold the public interest and ensure transparency
in their work.
10. In Texas, plat approval is governed by:
A. The Texas Zoning Act
B. The Public Information Act
C. Local Government Code Chapter 212
D. The General Land Office Guidelines
Chapter 212 of the Texas Local Government Code provides municipalities
the authority to regulate subdivision plats.
11. What is the minimum population a Texas city must have to be
classified as a "home rule" city?
A. 1,000
B. 3,000
Exam Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales
|2026 Q&A | Instant Download Pdf
1. Which of the following best describes the purpose of a comprehensive
plan?
A. To enforce zoning regulations
B. To provide a long-term vision for growth and development
C. To establish tax rates for property owners
D. To approve building permits
A comprehensive plan outlines the community's long-term goals and
objectives, guiding future development and decision-making.
2. The Standard State Zoning Enabling Act (1920s) is significant because:
A. It provided the legal basis for subdivision regulations
B. It authorized local governments to adopt zoning ordinances
C. It limited state control over local land use
D. It introduced environmental impact assessments
,This act empowered local governments to regulate land use through
zoning, forming the foundation of modern planning in the U.S.
3. In Texas, which entity typically adopts the comprehensive plan?
A. The city manager
B. The city council
C. The planning commission
D. The zoning board of adjustment
City councils in Texas municipalities have the legal authority to adopt
comprehensive plans.
4. Which of the following is not a typical element of a comprehensive
plan?
A. Land use
B. Banking regulations
C. Transportation
D. Housing
Banking regulations are not included in comprehensive plans, which focus
on physical and community development.
5. In Texas, cities can exercise extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) to:
A. Enforce tax collection
B. Approve school zoning boundaries
C. Regulate development outside city limits
D. Rezone properties without consent
,ETJs allow cities to regulate development just outside their corporate
boundaries, often for platting and subdivision control.
6. Which U.S. Supreme Court case upheld the constitutionality of zoning?
A. Nollan v. California Coastal Commission
B. Village of Euclid v. Ambler Realty Co.
C. Dolan v. City of Tigard
D. Kelo v. City of New London
Euclid v. Ambler (1926) affirmed that zoning was a valid use of police
power.
7. A zoning ordinance is considered invalid if it is:
A. Politically unpopular
B. Environmentally strict
C. Compliant with a comprehensive plan
D. Arbitrary and capricious
Zoning must be based on a rational basis. Arbitrary and capricious zoning
violates constitutional due process.
8. Which planning tool is most often used to regulate the intensity of
land use?
A. Design guidelines
B. Floor Area Ratio (FAR)
C. Setback requirements
D. Infrastructure capacity analysis
, FAR limits the amount of floor space relative to lot size, directly regulating
land use intensity.
9. Under the AICP Code of Ethics, planners must:
A. Prioritize private property rights above all
B. Serve the public interest and provide full, clear, and accurate
information
C. Avoid any form of government employment
D. Accept gifts under $50
Planners are bound to uphold the public interest and ensure transparency
in their work.
10. In Texas, plat approval is governed by:
A. The Texas Zoning Act
B. The Public Information Act
C. Local Government Code Chapter 212
D. The General Land Office Guidelines
Chapter 212 of the Texas Local Government Code provides municipalities
the authority to regulate subdivision plats.
11. What is the minimum population a Texas city must have to be
classified as a "home rule" city?
A. 1,000
B. 3,000
