zoning

noun

zon·​ing ˈzō-niŋ 

: the act or process of partitioning a city, town, or borough into zones reserved for different purposes (such as residence or business)

also : the set of ordinances by which such zones are established and regulated

voted to change the town's zoning

zoning laws

Examples of zoning in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Orange County residents in 2024 voted to place 345,000 acres in a rural boundary, requiring a super-majority of commissioners to remove land or change zoning. —Jeffrey Schweers, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2026

Its construction was made possible by city zoning incentives designed to foster hotel development along the historic Art Deco District commercial corridor. —Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 20 Mar. 2026

This zoning technique makes your yard feel significantly larger and far more organized, naturally guiding you and your guests to enjoy different parts of your property throughout the day. —Rosehill Gardens, Kansas City Star, 20 Mar. 2026

These ADUs, which range from stand-alone one-bedrooms to a studio dropped on top of a garage, have already been reviewed for code and zoning compliance. —Clio Chang, Curbed, 18 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1912, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for zoning

• boning
• cloning
• coning
• droning
• groaning
• honing
• loaning
• moaning
• owning
• phoning
• stoning
• toning

Legal Definition

zoning

noun

zon·​ing

: municipal or county regulation of land use effected through the creation and enforcement of zones under local law