Question 1

A public report is good for:

Accepted Answer

A public report is typically good for two years.

Question 2

The principal responsibility of a planning commission is to advise elected officials regarding:

Accepted Answer

The development of a general plan is the primary responsibility of a planning commission. The general plan guides land use, transportation, housing, and other important aspects of community development. The planning commission advises elected officials on updates and revisions to the general plan, as well as other land-use policies and decisions.

Question 3

The famous case that ruled that the Civil Rights Act of 1866 was constitutional was:

Accepted Answer

Jones vs. Mayer was the famous case in 1968 that ruled that the Civil Rights Act of 1866 was constitutional. This act had already been passed more than a hundred years earlier, in the aftermath of the Civil War. It was designed to give equal protection under the law to African-Americans and other minorities following the end of slavery. The case involved a white property owner in Missouri who refused to sell his house to an African-American family. The Supreme Court ruled that the Civil Rights Act of 1866 prohibited discrimination on the basis of race in the sale or rental of property, and that this was constitutional.

Question 4

Which of the following is not a material change that requires an amended public report?

Accepted Answer

The placement of a billboard on a highway showing the location of the subdivision is a marketing change that does not affect the material facts of the development. The other choices involve changes in the purchase contract forms, lot sizes, and sales, which could affect buyers' decisions and require an amended public report to ensure all relevant information is disclosed.

Question 5

Which is not an example of police power:

Accepted Answer

Taking someone's home to build a freeway is not an example of police power. Police power refers to the government's authority to regulate behavior and enforce order within its jurisdiction for the health, safety, morals, and general welfare of its citizens. Taking someone's property for public use through eminent domain is a power granted by the Constitution, but it is not considered police power.

Question 6

Which of the following requires a certain number of units to be set aside for people of low and moderate income?

Accepted Answer

Inclusionary zoning is a policy that requires developers to reserve a certain percentage of the units in a development for low to moderate income households. This is often done as a condition of obtaining permits for the development. The other options listed do not involve setting aside units for low to moderate income individuals.

Question 7

State legislation gives cities and counties some control over real property in all of the following matters, except:

Accepted Answer

Lien and attachment laws are regulated by state law, not city or county ordinances. The other choices are all areas in which cities and counties have some control over real property through local regulations and zoning laws.

Question 8

To exercise this power, government must have a public use and pay just compensation:

Accepted Answer

The power described in the statement is eminent domain. It allows the government to take private property for public use, as long as they pay the owner just compensation. The other options, police power, planning, and zoning, all involve different types of government authority but do not meet the criteria outlined in the statement.

Question 9

Which of the following is the best definition of the term "zoning"?

Accepted Answer

Zoning is the process of separating non-harmonious land uses. It involves dividing land into different zones and regulating the type of activities that can take place in each zone. The goal is to promote orderly and efficient land use and to prevent conflicts between incompatible uses.

Question 10

If a city planning commission turns down a variance request, the next level of appeal is to the:

Accepted Answer

City councils have the authority to review and overturn decisions made by planning commissions, making them the next level of appeal for variance requests. The city engineer and assessor are not typically involved in the appeals process, and the courts would only be involved if the decision is challenged through legal means.

Question 11

All of the following regarding housing and construction laws are true, except:

Accepted Answer

The answer of All of the following regarding housing and...

Question 12

Which of the following is not controlled by zoning regulations?

Accepted Answer

Zoning regulations control land use, building height, and the type of building allowed. Deed restrictions, on the other hand, are private agreements between property owners and are not controlled by zoning regulations.

Question 13

A deviation from zoning requirements for a single parcel of land is a:

Accepted Answer

A deviation from zoning requirements for a single parcel of land is called a variance. A variance is a special permit that allows a property owner to use their land in a way that is typically not allowed by the zoning ordinance. A variance is granted by a local zoning board and is based on the unique circumstances of the property. A rezoning is a change to the zoning regulations for a particular area or district. An appeal is a request for a higher authority to review a decision made by a lower authority. A planning change is a general term that can refer to any modification to a community's planning documents or processes.

Question 14

The Subdivided Lands Act would apply to:

Accepted Answer

The Subdivided Lands Act applies to subdivisions of five or more lots or units, including condominium conversions.

Question 15

All of the following are common interest developments, except:

Accepted Answer

Standard tract homes are not considered common interest developments because homeowners typically own both the house and the land it sits on, and there are no shared amenities or common areas. In contrast, condominiums, PUDs, and stock cooperatives all involve shared ownership and/or use of common areas, which creates a "common interest" among the owners.

Question 16

Which of the following would not be governed by the Subdivision Map Act?

Accepted Answer

The Subdivision Map Act is a California-specific regulation, so a residential development in Las Vegas, Nevada, would not be governed by it.

Question 17

The state and federal governments have instituted laws prohibiting illegal discrimination in real estate transactions. Which of the following is a federal law that affects all states?

Accepted Answer

The Civil Rights Act of 1968, also known as the Fair Housing Act, is a federal law that prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of housing based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and disability. The 1988 Amendments strengthened the law by expanding protection to additional groups, including people with disabilities and families with children. The other options listed (Holden Act, Rumford Act, and Unruh Civil Rights Act) are state laws that only apply in specific states.

Question 18

Which of the following statements is not true in regard to the issuance of the preliminary public report on a subdivision project?

Accepted Answer

Preliminary public reports are typically valid for a shorter period, such as one year, not five years. They allow for reservations but must be replaced by the final public report for actual sales to proceed.

Question 19

Discrimination due to race, color, or creed in housing under both federal and state legislation is:

Accepted Answer

Discrimination due to race, color, or creed in housing is considered illegal and unlawful under both federal and state legislation, making all of the options correct descriptions of its status.

Quiz 12: Land-Use Planning, Subdivisions, Fair Housing, and Other Public Controls