Public Land Use Controls – Government Powers & Control
To remember the government powers – use the acronym PETE.
P for Police Power
E for Eminent Domain
T for Taxation
E for Escheat
POLICE POWER
Police power is the authority of states, often delegated to local governments, to place restraints on the personal freedoms and property rights of individuals to promote public health, safety, morals, or general welfare. The most important and BEST example of the exercise is zoning ordinances.
- The Master Plan. The primary method by which local governments recognize development goals is through the formulation of a comprehensive master plan.
- Provisions of the master plan are implemented by zoning ordinances. Zoning consists of dividing the land within a particular governmental entity into districts or zones & then specifying what uses of the land are permitted & prohibited in each zone.
- Zoning powers are conferred upon municipalities by the N.C. Enabling Act.
- Zoning regulations may include; permitted uses, lot sizes, building heights, setbacks, & density.
- Zoning Concepts & Terms include;
Nonconforming Use. The landowner is entitled to continue the pre-existing use as a matter of right.
Illegal Use. A violation of zoning laws at the time it is put into use.
Zoning Amendments. The legislative zoning body has the power to amend, supplement, change, modify or appeal zoning ordinances.
Variance. A variance permits prohibited land uses to avoid undue hardship.
Special Use Permit. To allow a deviation due to unique circumstances; e.g., a church or school located in a residential subdivision.
Overlay District. Used as a coded overlay on all or parts of a zoning map; e.g., flood zone markings.
Historic Preservation Zoning. Controls exterior appearance of buildings in order to preserve NC’s legacy of historically significant structures.
Spot Zoning. The singling out of land for either special or restrictive treatment inconsistent with the zone in which the parcel is located.
In North Carolina, “spot zoning” is not automatically an illegal practice / automatically invalid; however, if it lacks a reasonable basis, then it will be void.
Cluster Zoning. A multi-use zoning, to permit residential, commercial, etc., in the same space.
Buffer Zone. Landscape areas to separate (buffer) areas between different designated zones.
Planned Unit Development (PUD) – a special use permitted under a zoning ordinance that allows a developer to deviate construction on standard lots & develop tracts with varying land uses & densities. The major feature of a PUD is flexible zoning to control & promote;
- A mixture of both land uses and dwelling types.
- Clustering of residential land uses provides public & common open space.
- Typical features compare to those of a residential subdivision.
EMINENT DOMAIN
Eminent domain is the inherent power of the state to seize a citizen’s private property, or seize a citizen’s rights in property with due monetary compensation, but without the consent of the owner. The property is taken either for government use or by delegation to third parties who will devote it to public or civic use or, in some cases, economic development. The most common uses of property taken by eminent domain are for railroads, public utilities and highways. Some jurisdictions require that the government body offer to purchase the property before resorting to the use of eminent domain.
The term “condemnation” is used to describe the formal act of the exercise of the power of eminent domain to transfer title to the property from its private owner to the government. This use of the word should not be confused with its sense of a declaration that real property, generally a building, has become so dilapidated as to be legally unfit for human habitation due to its physical defects. This type of condemnation of buildings (on grounds of health and safety hazards or gross zoning violation) usually does not deprive the owners of the title to the property condemned but requires them to rectify the offending situation or have the government do it for the owner at the latter’s expense.
Condemnation via eminent domain indicates the government is taking ownership of the property or a lesser interest in it, such as an easement. In most cases the only thing that remains to be decided when a condemnation action is filed is the amount of just compensation, although in some cases the right to take may be challenged by the property owner on the grounds that the attempted taking is not for a public use, or has not been authorized by the legislature, or because the condemnor has not followed the proper procedure required by law.
TAXATION
Taxation is a charge on real estate that is used to pay for services provided by the government.
ESCHEAT
Escheat occurs when Property reverts to state ownership when an individual dies without a will and without heirs. When you die without a will you would have died “intestate.”
To learn more about Government Powers & Control of Land Use, and the thirteen (13) Real Property Ownership / Interest questions you WILL see on the National section of the NC Real Estate Broker License Examination, – join your colleagues at one of our many live class offerings.