If you don't control the land it may get up and move elsewhere. That would leave a huge gap where it used to be, and you may fall in. That's why there are so many sinkholes in Florida. The landowners didn't discipline the land when it was young and now it's coming back to bite them.

there can be more problems than you could shake a surveyor's tripod at.... 

The sky is the limit. 

The problems can be numerous and involve many moving pieces that will vary by city(sometimes even neighborhood or homeowner association), county and/or state.  

The answer by Dave Halpern is a classic and I hope he has other smart responses the next time this question is asked.   

Study hard.  Take lots of practices exams.  Do well.  

The biggest problem is that we allow the govt to do this to us.

OMG I just learned why Fl has so many sink holes from Dave Halpern - who knew!!  Holy smokes we'd better do more disciplining of our land in AZ!

Barbara Todaro nailed this one!

All are regulated by the government - that's the 'common problem!'

 Government.

See Dave Halpern answer. Priceless 

Zoning is government controlled, so planning is limited to the parameters they set unless you appeal the zoning.

Your local government has the control. You are compelled to attend your planning commission meetings to learn what is happening.

Getting information.

None, if you sell residential homes. 

The answer has filled many books. 

Control.

The question is too meaty and broad. However, all problems are solvable

Taylor Robinett The biggest issue is obtaining a special use permit or changing the zoning. Special use permits take at least six months to obtain and rezoning can take a year or more. The Comprehensive Plan dictates what can usually be done with a parcel.

Just watching a news story about the Middle East over the last 25 years;that'll give you more than enough to work with as an answer to your question.

this is too state specific to answer here

Here is an interesting Florida story about a big time developer who thought private property rights is simply a 'token,' a bone if you will, tossed to the small people to keep the happy.

Read this story and controlling land, zoning and planning problems become clear.

Westgagte Resorts  Orange County Florida.

If the link does not work:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/orange/os-westgate-sues-to-open-tower-20170813-story.html

Others have answered.

The biggest problem is the corrupt politicians approving what should be denied and denying what should be approved. What happened to them looking out for the best interest of the town/city?

I've never been involved in controlling land, zoning, or planning either as a real estate broker or as a private individual.

Taylor Robinett Government controls this (and I believe we indirectly control the government....lol!)

Taylor,

Each marketplace and governing bodies differ from city to city, county to county, state to state.  You are going to have to do some homework on that. A

YOu name it it has happened

As Barbara Todaro said, there are many!

Local government issues - long and short term planning and development, zoning restrictions, lack of planning

There's the U.S. and then there's the greatest state of California! Time limits my reponse as does my paitience in writing the obstacles to your three categories--Land, Zoning and Planning. We have groups who do nothing but throw up an objection so they can be paid off to disappear. There's one organization in my area of Northern California who will sue for many types of land use issues--clearing old orchard to plant vineyards, being 2 miles from a protected habitat--they don't sue for much and figure the land owner will NOT want to go to court but pay them $5,000 to $10,000 to go away. We also have CEQA, the California Environmental Quality Act which is a California statute passed in 1970, shortly - a statewide policy of environmental protection. This single-handedly slams the door on many land use projects. I could keep going but it is so frickin' depressing. We have a major housing crisis today in California and allowing building of affordable housing is taking an act of God or Jerry Brown's deft pen to get things done!

The people that own adjoining properties like to protest the rezoning stating infrastructure overload and traffic congestion will be created diminishing their property values and enjoyment.

GREED