{"id":4554,"date":"2016-04-04T10:47:33","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:47:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/smallbusiness\/business-operations\/commercial-zoning.html"},"modified":"2024-06-06T02:16:16","modified_gmt":"2024-06-06T07:16:16","slug":"commercial-zoning","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/business-operations\/commercial-zoning.html","title":{"rendered":"Commercial Zoning"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Commercial Zoning<\/h1>\n
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\n By FindLaw Staff<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Aviana Cooper, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\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

Zoning laws affect businesses in ways you might not expect. Business owners sometimes hear an area is not zoned for their type of business when planning an expansion or buying property. Home-based businesses sometimes encounter zoning issues when they grow and become small businesses.<\/p>\r\n

This article addresses what zoning laws are and how they affect your business.<\/p>\r\n

Types of Zoning<\/h2>\r\n

Local governments use zoning<\/a> to protect a community’s health and safety and regulate growth. Zoning laws — also called zoning ordinances and land use regulations<\/a> — control the use of property. Commercial zoning laws control the activities a business may conduct in a particular area. This includes the category of business that can occupy the zoned area. Zoning regulations can create uniformity in commercial buildings so facades and signage have a standard appearance.<\/p>\r\n

Commercial zoning districts affect where business activities<\/a> may operate. Local governments categorize zoning<\/a> within a city, municipality, or county, such as:<\/p>\r\n