What is zoning?
The purpose of zoning is to separate different land uses. The development standards found within riverside County Ordinance No. 348 try to insure that private development takes place within a given area in which: (1) All uses are compatible, (2) Common development standards are used, and (3) Each development does not unreasonably place a burden upon its neighbors.
Presently, your property is located within a zoning district and governed by a zoning ordinance. Examples of some zoning districts are agriculture, single family residential, office commercial, and light industrial. The zoning ordinance regulates what types of uses are permitted and how a property can be developed within a particular district. The zoning ordinance has requirements such as building height, minimum lot area, setback lines, off-street parking, landscaping, signage, and other related considerations. Zoning is one of the most important tools for promoting orderly development. It is the City’s zoning that determines the location and the type of commercial and residential development that can be located on a piece of property. By predetermining the placement of certain types of developments through the Comprehensive Plan, zoning code, and subdivision code, the City tries to prevent potential conflicts, declining property values, traffic problems, and safety hazards. Before be
Zoning is the classification of land into districts. The purpose of zoning is to regulate the use of land including the use, placement, size of buildings, yard requirements and parking. A zoning law consists of two parts: • A zoning map shows the boundaries of the various districts. • A written text (called a zoning ordinance) sets forth the regulations applicable to each district. Zoning regulations must be reasonable and can be imposed to protect and promote the health, safety and general welfare of the public. Zoning is the primary means of trying to ensure that land uses are compatible with each other.
Zoning is a type of regulation that is used by most cities to implement the adopted Comprehensive Plan. Zoning encourages the kind of land development that is indicated in the policies and maps of the Plan. Zoning regulations also provide a guide on how property owners can use their land in the best interests of public health, safety or general welfare. Historically, zoning has been used to separate different types of land uses that are incompatible with each other, like the lead smelter next to a residential neighborhood. Zoning standards are established to make sure that neighboring properties do not block light and air and to prevent overcrowding or traffic congestion. Zoning is also intended to reserve sufficient land for developers and builders to provide facilities for people to live, work, shop and play. Zoning helps government entities determine the location and size of major streets, the size of water and sewer lines and the best locations for parks, schools and fire stations.
