What is Zoning?

Zoning is a regulatory approach to control how land or real estate of an area would be used.

It divides the whole area into different zones. Such as:

  • Commercial
  • Industrial
  • Residential and
  • Agricultural

The government applies zoning law to specify which area is to be used for what kind of zoning. As we see a residential zone is totally different in landscaping compared to a commercial or industrial zone.

While dividing into different zones the location of the area, size, density of population, needs of the locality, etc are considered. In addition, for greater public interest the authority may grant Spot zoning to a particular piece of land also.

What is the purpose of Zoning?

The main purpose of Zoning is to improve the quality of life of an area. And another important aim is to ensure the proper use of available land.

The very first zoning law in the USA was the Los Angeles zoning ordinance of 1908. But the first citywide zoning resolution was evolved in New York City and adopted the first zoning resolution in 1916.

Zoning is a municipal or city-level policy and is generally performed by local government bodies.

Property owners must comply with the zoning rules. Zoning rules can be changed or relaxed based on necessity, it is not fixed forever.

What are the 7 types of land use?

The 7 types of land use are:

  1. Residential;
  2. Commercial;
  3. Industrial;
  4. Agricultural;
  5. Forestry;
  6. Recreation; and
  7. Government.

Brief descriptions of the 7 types of Land use are:

  • Residential land use refers to the use of land for private homes and gardens.
  • Commercial land use refers to the use of land for businesses and other organizations.
  • Industrial land use refers to the use of land for factories, warehouses, and other industrial purposes.
  • Agricultural land use refers to the use of land for farming and other agricultural activities.
  • Forestry land use refers to the use of land for forestry and other forest management activities.
  • Recreation land use refers to the use of land for parks, playgrounds, and other recreational facilities.
  • Government land use refers to the use of land for government buildings, roads, and other public facilities.

What is Zoning Variance?

A Zoning Variance is a request for permission to do something that is not normally allowed by the zoning code.

This could be a request for a zoning change, a special permit, or anything else that falls outside of the usual regulations. The Board of Zoning Appeals grants or denies the request for a variance.

What does Variance requested mean?

There is no definitive answer to this question, as the term “variance requested” could mean a number of different things in the realm of real estate in the United States.

Generally speaking, a variance is a deviation from the norm or the standard.

So, a variance requested could simply refer to a request for something that is not typically allowed in the realm of real estate. This could be a request for a zoning change, a special permit, or anything else that falls outside of the usual regulations.