Real Estate Terms:What is "Zoning"?

In general, zoning is the division of an area into sub-areas, called zones. This article primarily concerns

zoning in its urban planning iteration.

Zoning is a system of land use regulation which designates the permitted uses of land based on mapped

zones, which separate one part of the community from another. Zoning regulations fall under the police

power rights governments may exercise over real property. Theoretically, its primary purpose is to segregate

uses that are thought to be incompatible. In practice, zoning is used as a permitting system to prevent new

development from harming existing residents or businesses. Zoning is commonly controlled by local

governments such as counties or municipalities.

Zoning commonly includes regulation of the kinds of activities which will be acceptable on particular lots

(such as open space, residential, agricultural, commercial or industrial), the densities at which those

activities can be performed (low density housing such as single family homes to high density such as

apartment buildings), the height of buildings, the amount of space structures may occupy by limiting how

close a building may be from the edge of the lot, the proportions of the types of space on a lot (for example,

how much landscaped space and how much paved space), and how much parking must be provided.

Most zoning systems have a procedure for granting variances - exceptions to the zoning rules, usually

because of some perceived hardship due to the particular nature of the property in question.

In other words: Zoning is the laws that establish how a property can be used and what codes must be

followed when erecting new buildings.

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