Florida Broker Practice Exam

What type of restrictions may be attached to deeds to control future property uses?

1. Usage Guidelines

2. Deed Restrictions

3. Zoning Requirements

4. Land Covenants

The correct answer is: Deed Restrictions

Deed restrictions are specific provisions written into a property's deed that dictate how the property can or cannot be used. These restrictions are aimed at maintaining a certain character for the neighborhood or protecting the interests of other property owners nearby. They can include limitations on building materials, property type, use (like preventing the operation of a business from a residential property), or even aesthetic considerations, such as prohibiting certain colors for paint. While usage guidelines, zoning requirements, and land covenants all play roles in regulating land use, they differ from deed restrictions. Usage guidelines may refer to broader suggestions or standards but lack the binding legal force that deed restrictions have. Zoning requirements are established by local governments and have to do with how land in specific areas can be used, but they do not inherently come with the property and may change over time based on municipal planning. Land covenants often refer to agreements among property owners within a development but are typically not recorded in the same formal manner as deed restrictions. This makes deed restrictions the most appropriate and specific answer regarding the controls on future property uses as tied directly to property deeds.