Relationship between Land

Use and Zoning

What is Land Use?

Land use is a generic term without a universal definition. Land use may refer to many things; it may refer to
buildings or the occupants, it may refer to the questions pertaining to the occupancies of the land, and it may
also refer to the kind of activities occur on the land. Land use simply refers to the function of land, particularly
what it’s being used for. Land use is a process of organizing the use of land to meet occupant’s
needs while respecting the capabilities of the land. Previously, land use planning was limited to merely the
existing uses of the land. As the use of land gets more complicated, land use planning becomes more
sophisticated.

What is Zoning?

Zoning is the division of a municipality or community into different districts and zones in which certain
activities are prohibited and others are permitted. Zoning is actually a planning control tool and the way
governments regulate the physical development of land based on its usage, purpose, geology, etc. It is the
regulation and restriction of land uses based on a pre-determined plan. It defines the rules that govern what
and where people and institutions can and cannot build in our cities, suburbs, and towns. Zoning tells us how
tall our houses can be and how far our houses need to be away from the street. The purpose of zoning is to
protect and conserve the value of land use.
 Land Use
Definition
Land use is a process of organizing the use of land to
meet occupant’s needs while respecting the capabilities
of the land. Land use planning balances private
property rights with the desired community character.
Designations
Land management is done through the use of land use
designations (LUD’s). Land use designations specify
ways of managing an area of the land and the resources
it contains. LUD’s emphasizes on certain resources or
combination of resources. The LUD’s are assigned or
allocated to specific areas of land corresponding to
compatible zoning districts.
Zoning
Definition
Zoning defines the rules and laws governing what and
where people and institutions can and cannot build in
our cities, suburbs and towns. Zoning is actually a
planning control tool and the way governments
regulate the physical development of land based on its
usage, purpose, geology, etc. Land use control and
zoning in particular are very important to our everyday
lives.
Designations
Zoning designations define the regulations and laws to
control the development of property and how it should
be used. Zoning is a collective property right that
allows a governing authority to dictate the terms on
how property in certain geographic zones can be used.
 Land Use
Classification
– There is no ideal classification of land use as there is
considerable diversity of opinion about what
constitutes land use. There are primarily six types of
land use including agricultural land, recreational land,
transport land, urban land, forest land, and
commercial land.
Purpose
Land use plans and zoning are often assumed to be the
same thing. However, they are distinct elements that
serve different purposes for the planning and
development of cities.
Zoning
Classification
Zoning, on the other hand, are typically classified into
four major types: performance zoning, incentive
zoning, and intensity zoning. Local governing
authorities have a great deal of flexibility in how their
zoning codes are used to regulate the development of
land.
Purpose
Zoning is the most common form of land use
regulation used by authorities to regulate and control
the development of land within their borders. Zoning
laws enacted by local governing body define how a
specific parcel of land may be developed and used.
Zoning laws place restrictions on the extent to which a
land may be developed.
 Summary of Land Use vs. Zoning

Land use plans and zoning are often assumed to be the same thing. However, they are distinct elements
that serve different purposes for the planning and development of cities. Land use, as the name suggests,
is associated with planning, control, and rights of property. Zoning, on the other hand, is the allocation of
land in a municipality by dividing them into different zones. The purpose of zoning is to protect and
conserve the value of land use.