In real estate, which document specifies restrictions on property use and development?

The document that specifies restrictions on property use and development is a restrictive covenant. Restrictive covenants are provisions in property deeds or lease agreements that impose limitations or requirements on how the property can be used. They are designed to maintain a certain aesthetic or to protect property values within a neighborhood or development by enforcing specific rules and regulations.

For instance, a restrictive covenant might prohibit homeowners from painting their houses certain colors, or it may limit the types of structures that can be built on the property. This helps to ensure a uniform look and feel within a community, which is often important to the property owners and developers involved.

While a title deed outlines the ownership of the property and can reference restrictions, it does not provide the detailed limitations that a restrictive covenant does. A lease agreement governs the relationship between a landlord and tenant but is not a document that specifies restrictions on property development in the broader sense. Zoning ordinances dictate the type of activities allowed within a certain area, but they are enacted by local governments and not by private property owners. Thus, restrictive covenants play a crucial role in private property use and development.