Zoning Slices

Zoning Slices are built for analysis. They combine base and overlay districts into unique geometric combinations (“slices”) that enable calculation of area and regulatory statistics.

WHAT ARE ZONING SLICES FOR?

Advanced Analysis · Comparative Research

Geospatial Visualization · Scenario Planning

Transit & Infrastructure Planning · TOD Analysis

Super-power your analysis with Zoning Slices.

Zoning Slices, each a unique geometric combination of base and overlay districts, are the building block of the National Zoning Atlas map and Zoning Snapshots. We are now offering all 150,000 of them, in tabular or geospatial format, so others can use them for analysis.

When base districts and overlays collide, simply aggregating regulations introduces errors that distort analysis. We're the only firm with a solution. Each Zoning Slice is made using a unique, two-step flattening procedure to collapse these districts into a single polygon — isolating the prevailing regulation across a host of zoning attributes: from residential treatments and parking requirements to height caps and minimum lot sizes. The result is a geospatial dataset where every parcel has exactly one set of governing rules, enabling the kind of rigorous analysis that district-level data alone doesn’t support.

  • Information from zoned jurisdictions published to the National Zoning Atlas at the following scales:

    • Jurisdictions

    • Counties

    • Core-Based Statistical Areas (i.e., metropolitan and micropolitan areas)

    • States

    • The Zoning Slice: a unique geometric combination of base and any overlay district(s)

  • It’s up to you! Zoning Slices can include data about a slice’s:

    • Basic properties, such as its use type

    • Residential use permissions (for 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4+-family housing, and accessory dwelling units)

    • Minimum lot size requirements (for 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4+-family housing)

    • Parking mandates and height caps

    • Treatment of specialized housing types, including:

      • Accessory dwelling units

      • Affordable housing

      • Planned residential developments

    • CSV

    • GeoPackage, GeoJSON, or Geodatabase (with geospatial add-on)

Zoning Slices are delivered in a CSV at three pricing tiers:

  • Tier 1: Geospatial data plus basic data about zoning rules.

  • Tier 2: Tier 1 plus more specific information about rules relevant to 1-family, 2-family, 3-family, and 4+-family residential uses.

  • Tier 3: Tier 1 plus more specific information about rules relevant to accessory dwelling units, affordable housing, and planned residential developments.

As an additional option, Zoning Slices can include a corresponding geospatial file.

The sample linked below shows Tier 2 variables for 5 Slices in Rochester, New Hampshire.

DOWNLOAD A SAMPLE

Pricing Quotes Available Now.

This product will be ready for delivery on or before April 1. Contact us using the form below to receive a quote (and to inquire about academic rates).

Interested in Zoning Slices?

Fill out the details and we’ll get back to you with a quote ASAP.

Data Dictionary

This data dictionary lists each field used in the Zoning Slices, and includes the field’s format (numeric, integer, logical, character, or date), descriptive name, data example, and description. It also indicates the applicable Tier for each field.

Long live accessible zoning data for everyone.

By licensing our data, you support the National Zoning Atlas.

Land Use Labs is a mission-driven social enterprise created to ensure the NZA — the country's most authoritative zoning resource—stays current, free, and available to all.

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