The fundamental nature of zoning is that it separates the community into areas with different land use rules. When adopted, an ordinance differentiating between land use zones and a map defining the position of these zones is legally significant. The zoning map accompanies the zoning ordinance and is a visual representation of the designations set forth in the ordinance. In the process of zoning a community, the zoning map is legally as important to the ordinance because, whereas the zoning ordinance provides the content of the regulations, the zoning map defines where the specific regulations apply.

last updated January, 2006