zoning

American  

[zoh-ning] / ˈzoʊ nɪŋ /

adjective

1. (especially in city planning) of or relating to the division of an area into zones, as to restrict the number and types of buildings and their uses.

   zoning laws.

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zoning Cultural  

1. The establishment by local governments of districts that are restricted to various types of manufacturing, commercial, or residential use.

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Etymology

Origin of zoning

First recorded in 1810–20; zone + -ing ²

Explanation

Zoning is the process of splitting areas of land up into sections and clarifying what each of those sections can be used for. Your city's zoning might not allow you to build an enormous lighthouse in your front yard. Laws in a town or city that restrict what you can use land for are collectively known as zoning. Your neighborhood's zoning might allow multifamily homes and small businesses, while your cousin's area of town may have zoning that restricts it to single-family houses. In cities, zoning laws dictate where schools, medical clinics, homeless shelters, restaurants, parking lots, and liquor stores can be built. It may seem boring, but zoning affects daily life for most people.

Example Sentences

Austin’s housing market improved with a 19% drop in rents and home prices since 2022, following zoning law overhauls.

From Barron's • Jun. 1, 2026

He pointed to a recent landmark bill, State Senate Bill 79, which overrides local zoning laws to allow for taller, denser buildings near major transit stops.

From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2026

A “Yes in My Backyard” bill backed by Gov. JB Pritzker is designed to create affordable housing by pulling some zoning authority from cities and towns.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026

Some balked when Nolen began talking about passing zoning rules, she said.

From Salon • May 3, 2026

As long as the area has a current Permission to Terrorize zoning permit from the Department of Supernatural Licenses and Records.

From "Amari and the Night Brothers" by B.B. Alston