Zoning

Zoning is the body of local law that regulates land use. It answers what a parcel may be used for, how large a structure may be, where on the lot it may sit, and how much of the lot it may occupy.

Zoning is separate from the building code and is usually reviewed by different staff. A design can be code compliant in every structural respect and still be refused because it does not conform to zoning.

What zoning typically controls

• Permitted uses. Residential, commercial, industrial, and the many subcategories of each
• Setbacks. Minimum distances from structures to property lines
• Height limits. Maximum building height, defined locally
• Lot coverage. How much of the parcel may be built on
• Density. Dwelling units per acre
• Parking. Required spaces
• Accessory structures. Rules for sheds, garages, and pools

Overlays

A parcel can carry additional layers on top of its base district: historic overlays, coastal and floodplain overlays, airport height restrictions, corridor design standards. Each brings its own requirements, and they are additive rather than alternative.

Finding what applies

Every zoning code is local and published locally. The parcel's district comes from the jurisdiction's zoning map, and the rules for that district come from the zoning ordinance. Both are public. When the two conflict, or a parcel appears in two districts, that is a question for the planning department rather than one to resolve by reading.