ReCode Cherokee|What Is Zoning

Zoning is the legal framework that determines how properties can be developed or used. Zoning shapes our built environment and impacts how places grow.

Zoning influences:

• What gets built including housing, retail, office, industry, and other development types
• Transportation and connectivity
• Environmental protection and preservation of greenspaces and other natural assets
• Neighborhood character and design

Zoning ensures that land is used in a way that is compatible with the area and aligned with community goals. For example, zoning can prevent industry from being built in a neighborhood.  Zoning can also affect how an area or neighborhood looks and feels, defining both neighborhood and building features. Read about these features and other zoning terms below.

Zoning Dictionary

Development & Site Regulations

Use: What a property is allowed to be used for, including residential, commercial, industrial, parks, etc.
Density: How many homes or buildings are allowed on a lot
Setback: The required distance a building must be placed back from a street or property line
Lot size: Describes how big or small the lot is, often describing lot width which can determine how close buildings are to each other
Street Type: The category of a street that describes its purpose and design, like whether it mainly serves residential areas or more heavily trafficked commercial areas. Street types can also describe multi-modal features, like sidewalks, bikes lanes, and other pedestrian infrastructure.

Legal & Planning Terms

Ordinance: A piece of legislation enacted by a municipal authority. Zoning ordinances set rules about how land and buildings can be used and developed.
Variance: Official permission to deviate from a zoning rule when a property has unique conditions that make the rule difficult or impossible to meet.
Rezoning: A change to a property’s zoning designation that allows different uses or development than what is currently allowed in the area.
Special Use Permit: Special approval to allow a specific use that may be appropriate in a zoning district if certain conditions are met.
Overlay District: An additional set of zoning rules that apply on top of existing zoning to address special areas or community goals.

Why update the zoning code?
The current regulations have grown over time and can be difficult to navigate with regulations for the same land use or design criteria being located in different areas. Updating the code will make it clearer, more consistent, and better aligned with today’s planning goals and development practices.

How does the zoning code affect me?
The zoning code affects property owners, residents, and businesses by guiding what can be built, how projects are reviewed, and how new development fits into existing neighborhoods and rural areas.