{"id":369169,"date":"2016-04-04T10:47:16","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:47:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/realestate\/land-use-laws\/land-use-and-zoning-basics.html"},"modified":"2024-06-12T00:44:06","modified_gmt":"2024-06-12T05:44:06","slug":"land-use-and-zoning-basics","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/realestate\/land-use-laws\/land-use-and-zoning-basics.html","title":{"rendered":"Land Use and Zoning Basics"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Land Use and Zoning Basics<\/h1>\n
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\n By FindLaw Staff<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Robert Rafii, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Land use and \u200b\u200b\u200bzoning<\/a> codes involve the regulation of the use and development of real estate. The most common form of land-use regulation is zoning. Municipalities use zoning regulations and restrictions to control and direct property development. Since New York City adopted the first zoning ordinance in 1916, zoning regulations have been adopted by almost every major urban area in the U.S.<\/p>\r\n

What Are Zoning Regulations?<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

Local governments, including city councils, use zoning to serve the needs of municipalities. The basic purpose and function of zoning is to divide a municipality into the following districts (or zones):<\/p>\r\n