Land Use & Zoning

In Illinois, a deed restriction (restrictive covenant) differs from a zoning regulation in that:

ADeed restrictions are enforced by the government, zoning is enforced by private parties
BDeed restrictions are privately created and enforced by property owners; zoning is government-imposed and enforced by the municipality✓ Correct
CDeed restrictions apply only to commercial properties
DZoning restrictions expire after 20 years, deed restrictions do not

Explanation

Deed restrictions (restrictive covenants) are private agreements limiting the use of land that run with the property. They are typically created by a developer in a subdivision and are enforced by neighboring landowners (not the government). Zoning ordinances are government regulations enacted by municipalities and enforced through building permits, citations, and injunctions. Both may apply to the same property simultaneously, with the more restrictive provision controlling.

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