Zoning
Rules from the city or county that decide what kinds of buildings and uses are allowed on each parcel. Residential, commercial, industrial, and mixed-use are the common categories.
Every term like this one lights up in the step you're on.
Free to set up. No credit card.Part 1 of 4
Why a seller cares
Zoning says what the parcel can be used for, and a buyer with plans, a home office with clients, a rental, a second unit, checks it. A use that does not match the zone is either grandfathered or a problem.
Part 2 of 4
A simple example
Your home is zoned R-1, single family. A buyer wants to run a daycare from it and calls the zoning office before making an offer.
| What the buyer wants to do | What zoning says |
|---|---|
| Live in it | Allowed; the ordinary case |
| Add a rental unit | Depends on the zone; many R-1 zones now allow one |
| Run a business with customers | Usually a permit or a different zone |
Zoning is the list of allowed uses, and buyers with plans read it first.
Part 3 of 4
What people get wrong
That zoning only matters for commercial property. It decides what a buyer can do with a house, and buyers ask.
Part 4 of 4 · where to read next
Where it appears in the sale
What a definition is, and what it isn't
Keighbor is a software company, not a law firm, brokerage, or tax adviser. This is general information, not legal, tax, financial, or real estate advice about your sale. Your situation may differ. Before acting on a contract, disclosure, title, tax, or pricing question, ask an appropriately licensed professional in your state.
Written and researched by Keighbor Research · drawn from the reference glossary · how we research and check what we publish
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