Which zoning practice describes giving a single property or small area a different zoning classification than surrounding properties?

• A. Nonconforming Use
• B. Spot Zoning
• C. Buffer Zones
• D. Variance

Answer: (B)

Spot zoning describes giving a single property or a small area a zoning classification that differs from the surrounding properties. This usually happens to benefit a specific property owner or project rather than reflecting the overall pattern of land use in the neighborhood, which makes it controversial and often challengeable because it can disrupt the uniform application of the zoning plan. For example, rezoning one residential lot to a commercial use while all neighboring lots remain residential is a classic spot zoning move—it's a targeted deviation rather than a change that fits the broader plan. Other concepts work differently: a nonconforming use is about allowing a preexisting use to continue even after zoning changes; buffer zones are protective strips to separate incompatible uses; a variance is a one-time permission to deviate from a specific zoning rule for a particular lot due to hardship, not a wholesale change to the zoning of a small area.