We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Home

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is a Residential Area?

By Kathy Heydasch
Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 28,102
Share

A residential area is an area in which homes are located. More specifically, the area has been zoned by a local planning committee as an area in which homes can be built and occupied. Other types of areas are zoned commercial, agricultural, industrial, or a mixture of each.

Planning for a residential area can happen before or after an area is developed. If an area is zoned residential before any structures are built, then the area can be controlled and make for a more beautiful and family-friendly residential area. If an area is zoned residential after structures are in place, then any current businesses or structures can be grandfathered into the law, meaning they can remain in place until the business closes. Even if the business shuts its doors, however, there are still commercial or industrial structures standing in an area zoned residential.

Zoning in a residential division can take many forms and encompass many different styles of housing. Residences can be single-family or multi-family. They can also be one-story or multiple stories tall. An apartment complex is an example of a business in a residential area that might be several stories high. This may or may not be prohibited in the area, depending on the zoning rules for the location.

When building in these areas, it is important to note the zoning of the entire area in which one buys property. For example, a residential area can be adjacent to a commercial area. So one might wish to check the zoning of nearby lots to ensure that businesses won’t be built around the new home.

Zoning can also change. A farm that goes out of business might be zoned agricultural until a planning committee decides to change it to a residential area. At that point, single- or multi-family homes can be built upon the land, depending on the rules the zoning committee decides to put in place.

A person wishing to build a residence in a commercial or industrial area can apply for the district to be re-zoned. Likewise, a person wishing to build a business in one of these areas can apply for the area to be re-zoned. One must know the authoritative unit in the local government that is responsible for zoning and re-zoning and pay attention to regular meetings. Typically, a zoning or re-zoning committee must post signs and alert property owners if a drastic change is about to happen to a piece of property.

Share
HomeQuestionsAnswered is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.homequestionsanswered.com/what-is-a-residential-area.htm
Copy this link
HomeQuestionsAnswered, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

HomeQuestionsAnswered, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.