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 City Council will have final approval on the master plan, which would set design guidelines and zoning guardrails on future development, at a later date. —Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 20 Dec. 2025

The zoning board ultimately rejected the proposal. —Lauren Victory, CBS News, 19 Dec. 2025

Members of the city Urban Development Review Board voted without objection on Wednesday to approve the zoning proposal for the building, called 250 SW Brickell. —Catherine Odom, Miami Herald, 18 Dec. 2025

Richard Donner, the Gauthiers' attorney, noted that any commercial use of the land would require additional zoning changes and permit amendments. —Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 16 Dec. 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