Zoning Laws 101: What You Can — and Can’t — Build on Your Property

GoGaddis Real Estate Radio

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11d ago 12:00

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Your property might feel like it’s yours to do whatever you want with — but the truth is, city and county zoning laws often have the final say. Whether you’re dreaming of building a backyard cottage, adding a second story, starting a home business, or developing a multi-unit investment, zoning rules determine if it’s even possible. In this episode of Go Gaddis Real Estate Radio, I’m breaking down zoning in plain English so you’ll know what to expect before you spend a dime. We’ll start with the basics: what zoning is, why it exists, and how local governments use it to control growth, protect property values, and ensure safety. You’ll learn the most common zoning categories — residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural — plus overlays like historic districts, floodplains, and environmental protection areas that can further restrict what you can do with your land. Next, I’ll explain how zoning controls the specifics of what you can build. From setback requirements to height limits, lot coverage percentages, and rules on accessory structures like garages, sheds, or ADUs, every detail is outlined by zoning. We’ll also talk about special use permits, which allow for things like a home daycare, church, or mixed-use development when they don’t fit neatly into standard categories. To bring it home, we’ll dive into real-world homeowner and investor scenarios. Thinking of adding a detached garage or backyard rental unit? Zoning may limit your options. Looking to buy land for multi-family housing or a mixed-use project? You’ll need to confirm the zoning supports it, or be prepared for a lengthy rezoning or variance process. And I’ll share a cautionary tale about a homeowner who discovered — too late — that zoning rules blocked their plan to build a tiny home for family. Finally, I’ll cover how the rules can be changed, from applying for variances to pursuing full rezoning, and why those processes can be slow, political, and far from guaranteed. The bottom line: zoning laws aren’t just fine print — they directly affect the value, use, and potential of your property. A quick zoning check before buying, selling, or building can save you thousands of dollars and months of frustration. And stay tuned — in our next segment, we’ll talk permitting: when you need one, what happens if you skip it, and how zoning ties directly into the permitting process.

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