Conformity is the basis for subdivision restrictions.

• A. Progression/Regression
• B. Conformity
• C. Substitution
• D. Externalities

Answer: (B)

Conformity is the idea that new subdivisions should fit with the community’s planned layout and rules. In planning, regulations for subdivisions are meant to implement the master plan and zoning standards, so they control things like street patterns, lot sizes, setbacks, density, open spaces, and utility needs. When a subdivision follows these standards, it aligns with the overall design and goals of the area, which is what housing and land-use rules aim to achieve. That alignment is why conformity serves as the basis for subdivision restrictions—it ensures developments look and function as part of the larger plan, supporting orderly growth, efficient infrastructure, and neighborhood character.

Progression or regression describes changes over time rather than the regulatory basis for approving subdivisions. Substitution is about replacing one form of development with another, which doesn’t capture the plan-driven need for consistency. Externalities involve third-party effects, which regulations can address, but the core reason subdivision restrictions exist is to ensure conformity to the planned framework.