Humber/Ontario Real Estate Course 3 Exam Practice

What legal term describes restrictions that prevent future property owners from making changes to their property without permission?

1. Land use regulations.

2. Building permits.

3. Restrictive covenants.

4. Zoning laws.

5. Municipal ordinances.

6. Easements.

The correct answer is: Restrictive covenants.

The correct term that describes restrictions preventing future property owners from making changes to their property without permission is "restrictive covenants." Restrictive covenants are legally binding agreements written into property deeds that limit the ways the property can be used or what alterations can be made. These covenants are typically established by a developer or a homeowners’ association to maintain certain standards within a community or to preserve the value and aesthetics of the property. In real estate, they play a crucial role in maintaining uniformity and preventing undesirable changes that could negatively affect the neighborhood or community. They can cover a range of issues, such as prohibiting certain types of construction, restricting the use of the property for specific purposes, or even regulating the exterior appearance of homes. Other options do not directly encapsulate the same restriction on property changes by future owners. For instance, land use regulations and zoning laws refer to broader categories of legal frameworks set by local governments that dictate how land in different zones can be used, but they do not specifically limit individual property owners in the same way restrictive covenants do. Building permits are permissions required for construction and renovations, while municipal ordinances are laws governing activities within a municipality. Easements allow access or use of a part of one property by another and