Land Use & ZoningIntermediateCalifornia Exam

A commercial business that was legally established before current zoning regulations were adopted may continue to operate as a:

AVariance use

BConditional use

CNonconforming useCorrect

DSpecial use

Why Nonconforming use Is Correct

Answer C: Nonconforming use

A nonconforming use (also called legal nonconforming) is a use that lawfully existed before a zoning change and is allowed to continue, though it generally cannot be expanded.

Key Land Use & Zoning Terms in This Question

Zoning

Local government regulations that control land use by dividing areas into zones specifying permitted uses, building sizes, and densities.

Variance

Official permission to use land in a way that does not conform to the applicable zoning ordinance, granted by a zoning board when strict enforcement would cause undue hardship.

People Also Study

Key Terms to Know

Zoning

Local government regulations that control land use by dividing areas into zones specifying permitted uses, building sizes, and densities.

Variance

Official permission to use land in a way that does not conform to the applicable zoning ordinance, granted by a zoning board when strict enforcement would cause undue hardship.

Eminent Domain

The power of government to take private property for public use, with the requirement to pay the owner just compensation.

Adverse Possession

A doctrine by which a person can gain legal title to another's land by openly, continuously, and adversely occupying it for a statutory period.