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, and yard requirements. A zoning law consists of two parts:

  1. A zoning map shows the boundaries of the various districts
  2. A written text (City of Punta Gorda Development Regulations (LDR) sets forth the regulations applicable to each district.  Zoning regulations are 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 responsible for:

Zoning is needed to achieve the following:

  • Orderly development consistent with utility location/capacity, street network, public services
  • Compatible land uses in close proximity (prevention of land use conflicts and haphazard development patterns)
  • Neighborhood protection/stability
  • To provide assurance to new prospective businesses and outside investors – especially retail, food & beverage places and specialized industrial or manufacturing seeking a to locate in an area with a high level of quality design
  • Economic development (planned commercial and industrial areas, predictability of nearby land use, quality neighborhoods
  • Preservation of property investments and city’s tax base
  • City aesthetics and development quality through establishment of minimum development standards
  • Regulation of particular land uses of concern (e.g., noxious activities with noise or dust, home occupations, high traffic volume generating facilities, major structures, etc.)
  • Protection of “sensitive” land uses (e.g., schools, churches, hospitals, water supply and other environmental resources, historic/cultural sites
  • Management of land use transitions/evolution over time