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

The developers also asked for various allowances related to the county’s building and zoning restrictions. —Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 17 Oct. 2025

Two downsides might be aircraft noise and exhaust fumes, and zoning restrictions can limit new development or the expansion of a home. —Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2025

The legislation, Senate Bill (SB) 79, overrules local zoning to boost development in busy areas of the Golden State, allowing developers to build tall apartment and condo buildings of up to nine stories in single-family areas near certain transit stops. —Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025

But do politics really matter in local government — where many decisions relate to zoning and infrastructure? —Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 15 Oct. 2025

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