Real Estate Terms

• As-of-right development adheres to zoning regulations, needing no discretionary action from the City Planning Commission or Board of Standards and Appeals, common for most developments and enlargements.
• Doctrine of Laches involves failure to act promptly, potentially barring legal proceedings due to delay.
• Police Power enables political bodies to enact and enforce laws for public order, safety, health, morals, and welfare.
• Building Permit is official written approval for building construction, renovation, or significant repair.
• Certificate of Occupancy (CO) is a government-issued document certifying a building's readiness and suitability for occupancy.
• Eminent Domain is the government's right to acquire private property for public use through condemnation, with fair compensation to the owner.
• Condemnation is the act of taking private property for public use under eminent domain, ensuring fair compensation.
• The private sector can impose encumbrances like liens or easements on properties.
• State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) information can be found at www.deec.ny.gov.
• Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act aims to regulate interstate land sales, protecting consumers from fraud and abuse.
• Article 9-A information can be found at www.tax.ny.gov
• Abutting refers to parcels of land sharing a common border.
• Accessory Uses are subordinate and incidental to the primary use of a property, such as a garage for a single-family home.
• Accessory Apartment Uses are secondary residential units within a single-family home, garage, or carriage house, featuring separate access, kitchen, bedroom, and facilities.
• Family is defined as parents and children living together in a household.
• Group Home is a residence for a small number of unrelated individuals needing care or supervision, such as the elderly or mentally ill.
• Demography is the statistical analysis of human populations.
• Master Plan is a long-term planning document that establishes the framework and critical elements of a site via a clear vision created and adopted through an open process.
• Moratorium is a temporary ban on an activity.
• Subdivision Regulations involve controlling land division into lots through specific design standards and procedures set by local ordinances.
• Topography is the configuration of natural and constructed physical features of an area.
• Variance is permission to develop property in a manner not allowed by zoning regulations.
• Area Variance allows modification or exceeding of bulk regulations set by local zoning laws.
• Use Variance grants permission to use land differently than local zoning ordinances permit.
• Air Rights are rights to use the space above the land's surface.
• Building Code comprises regulations set by governments, detailing structural and egress requirements for buildings.
• Census Tract is a small, relatively permanent statistical subdivision of a country or equivalent entity.
• Cul-de-sac is a street with only one outlet.

Definitions include as-of-right development, doctrine of laches, police power, and building permits. Key concepts cover certificate of occupancy, eminent domain, and condemnation. Private sector encumbrances are included.