Maryland Land Use & Zoning
Practice Questions & Answers (2026)
Land use and zoning questions on the Maryland exam test both general zoning principles and Maryland-specific land use controls. The Maryland Real Estate Commission covers zoning classifications, variances, special use permits, nonconforming uses, and eminent domain. Maryland's specific land use laws, including Maryland environmental regulations and local zoning ordinances, are tested in the state portion. Candidates frequently confuse variances (permission to deviate from existing zoning) with rezoning (changing the zone itself) — a distinction the MD exam tests repeatedly.
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Maryland Land Use & Zoning — Practice Questions & Answers
110 questions on Land Use & Zoning from the Maryland real estate question bank. First 10 are free — sign up to unlock all 110.
Q1. A nonconforming use in Maryland is a use that:
Explanation
A nonconforming use predates the current zoning ordinance; it is allowed to continue but is generally not allowed to be expanded or rebuilt if destroyed.
Q2. A property owner wants to use their residentially zoned property as a daycare center. They would most likely apply for a:
Explanation
A special exception (conditional use permit) allows a use that is not automatically permitted by right but may be approved under specific conditions by the zoning authority.
Q3. The primary purpose of a buffer zone in Maryland zoning is to:
Explanation
Buffer zones are transitional areas between incompatible land uses (e.g., industrial/residential), reducing conflict and protecting residential quality of life.
Q4. Eminent domain in Maryland allows the government to:
Explanation
Eminent domain (condemnation) is the government's power to take private property for public use, but the owner must receive just compensation (5th Amendment).
Q5. What is a restrictive covenant in a Maryland residential subdivision?
Explanation
Restrictive covenants are private contractual limitations placed in deeds by developers to control land use within a subdivision (e.g., no fences above 4 feet).
Q6. The Maryland Critical Area law protects:
Explanation
The Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area Law regulates development within 1,000 feet of the mean high-water line of the Bay and its tidal tributaries.
Q7. A setback requirement in zoning regulations refers to:
Explanation
Setbacks specify how far a building must be set back from property lines, streets, or other features, ensuring open space and preventing encroachment.
Q8. Maryland's Smart Growth policies were designed to:
Explanation
Maryland's Smart Growth Act directs state funds to Priority Funding Areas (PFAs), encouraging infill and revitalization while discouraging sprawl into rural and agricultural land.
Q9. In Maryland, the primary authority for land use planning and zoning rests with:
Explanation
In Maryland, land use planning and zoning authority is primarily a local government function exercised by counties and municipalities.
Q10. A Maryland property owner wants to use their residentially zoned property as a day care center. They would most likely need:
Explanation
Operating a day care center in a residential zone typically requires a special exception or conditional use permit, which allows uses not listed as permitted by right in the zone.
Q11. A nonconforming use in Maryland is best defined as:
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