Government powers
Police power
Government authority to regulate land use for public health, safety and welfare
The constitutional basis for zoning, building codes, subdivision regulation and environmental controls. No compensation is owed for a valid exercise, however much it reduces what an owner may do, because nothing has been taken — only regulated.
How the exam asks about it
The exam’s favorite comparison. Zoning that halves what you may build is police power and pays nothing; taking a strip of your land for a road is eminent domain and pays.
Related terms
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