Which term describes a zoning action intended to benefit a nearby property by changing zoning for a small area?

• A. Zoning Ordinances
• B. Buffer Zone
• C. Nonconforming Use
• D. Spot Zoning

Answer: (D)

Spot zoning describes a zoning action that targets a very small area to benefit a nearby property or owner by changing its zoning. This happens when a city or county rezones a single parcel or a tiny tract to a use that wouldn’t fit the surrounding area, often to help a particular property owner achieve a higher value or a specific development. It’s viewed skeptically because zoning should reflect an overall plan and public interest, not private advantage, and it can undermine fairness and predictability in land use.

Zoning ordinances, in contrast, are the broad laws that establish the general rules for all properties across a jurisdiction, not a targeted tweak for one parcel. A buffer zone is a designated strip intended to separate incompatible uses and reduce negative impacts, not to benefit a specific property. A nonconforming use is a legally grandfathered use that continues despite a zoning change, not a targeted rezoning to aid a nearby property.