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

North Richland Hills council members unanimously voted to amend zoning requirements for data centers that want to locate in the city. — Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 July 2026

Candidates diverge on refund mechanics, data-center zoning and the future of the Truman Sports Complex after the Chiefs and Royals depart. — Kansas City Star, 27 July 2026

That provision of state law allows qualifying housing developments to bypass local zoning restrictions in cities without compliant housing plans. — Ethan Varian, Mercury News, 27 July 2026

Power negotiations, environmental review, community engagement and zoning decisions must run in parallel, and each thread affects the others. — Balaji Sreenivasan, Forbes.com, 27 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