Building restrictions are regulations that limit how an owner can use their property. Legal regulations usually come from a government entity. Zoning is one form of this regulation. The city or county can designate land for residential, commercial, or industrial use. This prevents a property owner from building an industrial plant on a residential lot. They can also zone a property for a certain amount of density. For example, this zoning can require that single family homes be on lots of 1/4 acre or more. It can also regulate where multi-family dwellings like apartment buildings can go. Deed or contractual regulations usually come with the deed to a property. These types of regulations often come in planned housing communities. They regulate what types of buildings can go on the property and a myriad of other regulations related to the buildings including set backs, square footage minimums, height restrictions, and even building materials.
