What do zoning laws dictate?

Zoning laws are regulations established by local governing bodies that determine how land in specific areas can be used. They dictate the types of activities that can occur on a property, such as whether it can be used for residential, commercial, industrial, or agricultural purposes. By doing so, zoning laws help manage urban growth and land development, ensuring that different land uses are compatible with one another.

In addition to specifying allowable land uses, zoning laws also cover various restrictions related to property modifications, such as building height, lot size, and the distance buildings must be set back from the street. These regulations ensure that developments fit within the character of the community and do not adversely affect neighboring properties. This makes option B the correct answer as it encapsulates the primary purpose of zoning laws: controlling and restricting how land can be used and modified.

Other options refer to matters that are not within the realm of zoning laws. For example, designing and decorating properties relates more to personal preference and interior design, while the process for obtaining a mortgage pertains to financing property purchases, not land use. Lastly, standards for construction materials are typically governed by building codes rather than zoning laws.