Restrictive covenant
A recorded private rule limiting how land in a subdivision may be used.
Covenants are written by developers and enforced by neighbors or an HOA. They govern building materials, outbuildings, home businesses, parking, and often architectural approval.
They are private contract terms, so a use that zoning permits can still be prohibited.
Why it matters when you buy
Covenants routinely restrict more than local zoning does, and they are enforceable against you.
Related terms
General educational reference only. Prescription periods and their exceptions change, and several states set the period by case law rather than by statute. Read the linked official code and consult a licensed attorney in that state before relying on any of it.
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