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

New rules may influence local zoning, airspace management and infrastructure planning. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 15 Nov. 2025

States from Massachusetts to California are passing laws targeting restrictive zoning regulations that for decades prohibited building multifamily developments and contributed to housing shortages. —Preston Fore, Fortune, 14 Nov. 2025

Each city will have a group of about seven members on a panel that decides issues regarding zoning and planning. —Maritza Dominguez, AZCentral.com, 14 Nov. 2025

For any potential parcel of land, Prophetic's software will pull every single zoning manual from every city and county in a state. —Diana Olick, CNBC, 14 Nov. 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