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

In 2024, nearly half of Sonoma County’s drone flights involved non-cannabis violations, including construction without a permit, junkyard conditions and zoning violations, according to data included in the complaint. —Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2025

Final architectural and engineering plans will take another five to six months, and will require final approval from the city zoning board. —Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 6 June 2025

Abolishing the regulatory barrier between a person who needs housing and one who has it, zoning, would provoke much innovation. —Roger Valdez, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025

One such city was Louisville, Kentucky, where the Louisville Times pushed for a similar racial zoning law. —James Burling, Oc Register, 2 June 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