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

For years, state leaders have pushed cities and counties to approve more housing by easing zoning and land-use restrictions. — John Ramos, CBS News, 14 July 2026

Council members, zoning commissioners, and members of the public have expressed trepidation at the speed of Fort Worth’s process to implement new data center rules. — Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 July 2026

Ahead of the law taking effect, SANDAG released a draft map in June identifying which transit stops will be subject to new high-density zoning. — Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 July 2026

But many housing experts point to local zoning and red tape as the root of the slowdown in homebuilding. — Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 11 July 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