Zoning and Land Use Regulation: Key Considerations for Local Municipalities

Summary

This practice note discusses the power of municipalities to regulate and control how property within municipal boundaries will be used, developed, and regulated through the enactment and application of laws, ordinances, and zoning regulations. This practice note also broadly discusses the practices and procedures typically followed by municipal governments in implementing land use plans and zoning regulations. Municipal land use regulation prescribes how land within a city's territorial boundaries may be used and developed, including location and density, and addresses protection of community resources. Regulation is achieved by ordinance or local law including, zoning, subdivision, special use permit or site plan, or other regulation.