Which zoning concept describes using zoning to prevent low-income or minority land users from buying real estate in certain areas?

• A. Inclusionary zoning
• B. Growth management
• C. Racial zoning
• D. Exclusionary zoning

Answer: (D)

Exclusionary zoning describes using zoning rules to keep low-income or minority buyers out of a neighborhood by imposing restrictions that limit who can live there. For example, setting minimum lot sizes or requiring single-family homes only makes housing more expensive and less dense, which effectively blocks many affordable or multi-family options that would attract lower-income households. While some communities justify these rules as protecting character or property values, they create barriers to housing access and can be discriminatory in practice. Inclusionary zoning, by contrast, encourages affordable units within developments. Growth management focuses on planning for growth and infrastructure rather than keeping people out. Racial zoning is the historical term for explicit race-based restrictions, which modern law prohibits; exclusionary practices are what the described concept targets. This makes exclusionary zoning the best fit for the scenario.